Chapter 17 – Drawing the Line
Yuji was the one who broke the kiss.
He shoved Ren back — not hard, but enough to create space, enough to breathe.
His chest heaved like he'd just run another mile. "We… we can't."
Ren stayed still, eyes locked on Yuji like he could read every thought in his head. "You think I don't know that?"
Yuji hated how calm he sounded. Hated how steady he looked while Yuji felt like he was coming apart.
---
"This bond," Yuji snapped, "it's messing with us. With me. I don't even know if what I feel is real anymore or if it's just—"
"Don't." Ren's voice cut sharp through the dark.
Yuji froze.
Ren stepped forward again, slower this time, like approaching something fragile. "Don't call it fake just because you're scared of it."
Yuji's throat tightened. "And what if I am?"
Ren stopped inches away.
"Then we stop," he said quietly. "Right here."
---
Yuji wanted to laugh. Or scream.
Stop? Like that was even possible.
Even now, standing this close, the bond hummed between them like a live wire, every nerve in his body screaming for more.
But he forced himself to turn away, slamming his back against the cold wall.
Ren didn't touch him again.
Didn't speak.
And somehow, that silence was worse than anything.
---
Minutes passed. Or hours. Yuji couldn't tell.
Finally, Ren broke it.
"When we get out of this," he said, voice low, "when we're safe… then we can decide what this is."
Yuji didn't answer.
Because the truth was, he wasn't sure he'd survive long enough to find out.