Ren's apartment was quiet when they arrived.
He kicked off his shoes with practiced ease, dropping his bag by the door. "Make yourself at home," he said, already heading toward the kitchen. "You want tea or soda?"
"Tea," Kaito called back, stepping inside.
It still smelled faintly like the incense Ren's mom used to light—subtle, grounding. The space was small, clean, with a window that framed the golden afternoon light perfectly.
Kaito dropped his bag beside the low table, then wandered over to the shelf filled with books, half-finished model kits, and—of course—Ren's embarrassingly well-maintained collection of mystery novels.
"You've added more," Kaito said, picking one up.
"Gotta stay mysterious," Ren teased, entering with two mugs of tea and setting them down. "Don't get too comfortable. I'm still brooding and unreadable."
"You say that, but you literally just put honey in my tea without asking."
Ren grinned. "Yeah, yeah. I'm secretly soft."
They sat, shoulder to shoulder, backs against the wall, the late sun stretching across the tatami.
After a few moments of quiet sipping, Kaito tilted his head.
"Have you thought about college?"
Ren didn't answer right away.
Kaito waited.
Finally, Ren exhaled. "A little. I don't have some grand dream or anything. I just… I want to study literature. Or maybe media. Something with stories."
"That suits you."
Ren gave him a sideways glance. "What about you?"
Kaito looked down into his tea. "I've always thought I'd go to Kyoto U. My parents expect it. I've already started studying for it."
Ren nodded. "Will it make you happy?"
Kaito hesitated. "I don't know. I mean, it's what I'm good at. But lately, I've been thinking… it feels weird making all these choices when I only just figured out who I am."
Ren bumped his knee against Kaito's. "You don't have to have everything figured out. We're still seventeen."
"Yeah. But time's moving fast."
"Then let's move with it," Ren said softly. "Together, if we can."
Kaito looked at him—really looked—and saw the future reflected in Ren's eyes. Not something scary and uncertain, but something open. Expansive.
Hopeful.
He leaned in.
And Ren met him halfway.
They kissed slow, familiar now, but never less thrilling.
When they parted, Ren rested his forehead against Kaito's. "You're my favorite place to come back to."
Kaito smiled. "Even if I end up in Kyoto?"
"Especially then. I'll visit. We'll figure it out."
Outside, the sky deepened into dusk.
Inside, they leaned into each other.
And for the first time in a long time, the future didn't feel like a storm on the horizon.
It felt like a road they could walk together.