Chapter 64 - Blindness

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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Kindness

 

 

Since walking alone was impossible, Suno ended up attending the party in a wheelchair, with Kotaro pushing him.

 

He'd tried to insist on using crutches instead, but Kotaro had insisted, "It's a standing party—you'll be more comfortable this way."

 

In his formal kimono, seated in a wheelchair and pushed by none other than the host's son, Suno felt glaringly conspicuous. He bore the discomfort as best he could, wearing a polite smile for appearances.

 

Since it was rumored he'd fallen down the stairs after bumping into Kotaro, Mr. Shindo had been deeply apologetic, even chastising his son sharply and instructing, "Take responsibility and look after Mr. Suno." Suno himself had been apologetically assured, "Please make use of my son as you see fit," and Mr. Shindo even insisted on covering all medical expenses.

 

Suno politely declined the financial assistance, but Mr. Shindo wouldn't take no for an answer. Before Suno could think of a way to refuse, the party had already begun.

 

Seeing Suno appear in a wheelchair, Ren and Aoi hurried to his side, both clearly shocked.

 

"Is it that bad? With the Kanto performance coming up too," Aoi murmured as he crouched down, looking up at Suno with concern.

 

"No, no, it's not that serious. Just a sprain. There's only one more stage in Kanto, and there's still some time, so I should be able to perform."

 

"I see… but it must still be inconvenient, right? Why don't you stay with us at our place while you're here?" Ren suggested kindly, and Suno found himself at a loss.

 

"Oh, no! I couldn't possibly impose on you like that. Besides… there's also Aoi and…"

 

"Oh…"

 

Ren and Aoi exchanged glances at Suno's words.

 

Yuto's heat was approaching soon. Even if Suno had long accepted that his feelings would forever be unrequited, he couldn't stay at the Kunishiro estate with Aoi and Yuto together nearby.

 

—I'd only end up making things awkward for them…

 

Suno turned to Aoi with a light smile. "I've got my manager and assistants to help me, so I'll be fine."

 

"I see…"

 

"Besides, tonight, my apprentice will perform in my place, so I can relax and enjoy the food," Suno added with a laugh.

 

Suddenly, a voice came from above. "Don't worry, I'll be taking care of Mr. Suno, so please enjoy the party, Mr. Aoi."

 

In a perfectly tailored suit and with a composed, confident tone, Kotaro looked much older than he had a moment ago. The stark contrast to the high schooler he'd been just minutes before startled Suno slightly.

 

"After all, I'm responsible for Mr. Suno's injury."

 

"Well, accidents happen. I'll leave him in your care," Ren said, nodding.

 

Kotaro gave a deep bow. "You can count on me, Mr. Ren."

 

"You've really grown tall, Kotaro. Are you taller than me now?" Aoi said, looking up at him.

 

Kotaro, with a serious expression, replied, "I measured just the other day—180 centimeters."

 

The sight of the three young, striking Alphas conversing had a graceful charm that drew Suno's gaze upward. Before long, other guests began approaching Ren and Aoi to greet them.

 

Noticing the crowd forming around the two, Suno felt out of place in his wheelchair among them. Seizing a moment, he turned to Kotaro, who was still behind him.

 

"Hey, could we move to a quieter spot until the performance starts?"

 

"Huh? Oh, and I bet you haven't eaten anything either. Want me to grab you a plate?"

 

"No, no, I'll be fine. You go ahead and enjoy yourself."

 

But at Suno's smile, Kotaro shot him a mildly irritated look. The serious demeanor he'd shown with Ren and Aoi was gone, replaced by a somewhat exasperated look.

 

"What? Like I'd just leave you alone after what happened."

 

"Oh… I see. But don't you need to go around with your father and greet people? You're a politician's son, after all."

 

"My dad put me in charge of looking after you tonight. And besides, my brother's here, so he can handle these things."

 

"Well… if you say so."

 

Kotaro wheeled Suno over to a side wall with fewer people, and then handed him a plate of food he'd hastily gathered. Suno looked up, a bit startled by Kotaro's sudden attentiveness, but Kotaro quickly turned his eyes away, as if embarrassed.

 

Despite his slightly irked expression, Kotaro was still only seventeen. Seeing his honesty, and the way he couldn't hide his shy glances, Suno couldn't help but find something endearing about him.

 

But the feeling he had for Kotaro was more like the warmth one feels toward a younger sibling. Even though Kotaro was an Alpha, he was still very much a kid.

 

"Thanks," Suno said softly.

 

"Uh… yeah."

 

"Looks tasty. Why don't we sit over there and eat together?"

 

"…If… if you want."

 

Kotaro pushed Suno to a quiet spot by the wall, and they began eating side by side. After a few moments of silence, Kotaro spoke up.

 

"So, hey… do you have any idea who did it?"

 

"Did what? Oh, you mean what happened earlier."

 

"Are you covering for them or something…?"

 

"No, no, nothing like that. I just didn't want to ruin the celebration."

 

"…Wait, so you're saying this isn't the first time?"

 

"Well, it's the first time I've been physically attacked, though I don't know if it's the same person."

 

Suno gave Kotaro a brief summary of the strange blank letters and hair he'd received in the past. Kotaro listened, his face growing darker with every word. "That's… creepy."

 

"Yeah, and I felt a weird stare at the airport too… Like they followed me here from Kyoto."

 

"That's some serious obsession… So, what are you doing tomorrow?"

 

"I have the day off, so I planned to practice dance by myself… but that's out of the question now. I'll probably be holed up in my room, working on some writing."

 

"Writing?"

 

"I write a column for a women's fashion magazine."

 

"Wow, really?"

 

Ironically, the column Suno wrote for was a love advice segment for young women. Suno, who could barely grasp a "normal" relationship himself, often chuckled at the irony as he wrote. His articles, though, were always well-received, and readers loved the photos of him in stylish Western outfits that accompanied each issue.

 

But there was no way he'd share these details with the young, wide-eyed Kotaro, who was looking at him with pure admiration. Suno gave him a slightly awkward smile.

 

"Anyway, I plan to report the stalker issue to the police once I get back to Kyoto, so you don't need to worry."

 

"When you're back in Kyoto…? So, uh, how long will you be here?"

 

"Oh… about ten more days. I have one more performance on the last day, so I need to heal up by then."

 

"Ten days…"

 

Kotaro's expression fell noticeably at Suno's words. With such a clear reaction, Suno didn't quite know what to say.

 

While he was searching for the right words, a familiar face appeared at the entrance of the hall. It was Arisugawa, his manager, accompanied by a bodyguard and a young Beta girl who was set to perform in Suno's place.

 

"Mr. Suno! What happened here?!"

 

The moment Arisugawa saw Suno in a wheelchair, she rushed over, clearly alarmed. Suno had only mentioned a light sprain, so she hadn't expected to see him unable to walk.

 

Suno quickly reassured her, explaining that the wheelchair was Kotaro's idea. Arisugawa looked Kotaro up and down, letting out an enigmatic "Oh…" of understanding.

 

"Ah… so you're the Alpha who, uh, 'bumped' into Mr. Suno?"

 

"Yes. I'm terribly sorry for the trouble I've caused."

 

"Oh, no, no, accidents happen! Besides, Mr. Suno can get a little distracted sometimes too."

 

"Huh? When have I ever been distracted?"

 

"Now, now, after the party, let's get you to a proper doctor. The first aid seems to have been done properly, so for now, go ahead and keep building those connections with the Shindo family."

 

Arisugawa flashed a smile at Suno and Kotaro. After introducing Kotaro to Suno's apprentice, the time for the performance drew near.

 

Suno took the trembling hands of his apprentice—a girl named Sanami—and reassured her, "You'll be fine. Just perform the dance you're best at." Sanami nodded repeatedly, replying with a soft but determined, "Y-yes… I'll do my best!" She then disappeared backstage with the bodyguard, a formidable-looking man in a dark suit and sunglasses, an image that struck a somewhat mysterious note next to the young, nervous girl.

 

Kotaro, giving Suno some space, was a short distance away, politely chatting with several other guests. From afar, he seemed mature and self-assured, his tall, slender frame hinting at both youthful grace and budding strength. Observing his poise, Suno couldn't help but think, He's bound to become someone truly remarkable someday.

 

Lost in his thoughts, Suno's gaze met Kotaro's. Flustered, Kotaro quickly looked away, his cheeks faintly red, leaving Suno momentarily thrown off balance, his own gaze faltering. Noticing Arisugawa smirking nearby, Suno cleared his throat awkwardly.

 

"Is everything set backstage?"

 

"Yes, everyone's ready… Oh, by the way, Suno," Arisugawa murmured, moving in close.

 

"Hmm?"

 

"That boy… he's quite young, but he's been watching you non-stop."

 

"Yeah…"

 

"Isn't he a total catch? Are you really just going to let him go? He seems like too rare a find!"

 

"Hey, keep your voice down! Just… go backstage and check on Sanami already!"

 

"Oh, yes, yes~"

 

Too rare a find, huh… Suno watched Arisugawa head off, his mind lingering on her words. I get it… but he's seventeen. A high schooler. That's… just not right.

 

As he sighed, sending Arisugawa off, Suno felt a sudden chill down his spine.

 

He glanced around, only to see the faces of the partygoers around him, laughing and chatting, but he was certain of it—a feeling, lingering and unsettling, like a pair of eyes crawling over his skin.

 

The memory of the attacker resurfaced: the pain in his ankle, the sensation of his chest being touched. Shivering, Suno gripped the hem of his jacket tightly.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"Wha…?"

 

"Your face is white as a sheet. What happened?"

 

Kotaro knelt down in front of Suno, his eyes full of concern as he peered up at him.

 

"What's going on?"

 

"…I… felt a gaze."

 

"Huh? You mean the stalker?!"

 

"W-wait…!"

 

Kotaro, ready to confront whoever it was, started to rise, but Suno quickly caught his hand. Kotaro glanced back, puzzled, but seeing the uncertainty in Suno's expression, his gaze softened.

 

Kneeling again, Kotaro enclosed Suno's tightly grasped hand in his own. The warmth of his touch melted away Suno's tension, drawing a soft sigh from his lips.

 

"I'm okay now..."

 

"Of course you're not okay. You must have been scared. Why can't you just admit it?"

 

"Scared?"

 

Since that day—when he was attacked and then slapped by his grandmother—he'd felt like he couldn't admit to being afraid.

 

His grandmother's mindset—that an Omega must always accept an Alpha's advances—had burrowed deeper into his mind than he'd realized.

 

"…Scared, huh… Yes, it was scary. Suddenly, in the dark, like that.."

 

"Of course you were. You don't need to act cool."

 

"I...I wasn't trying to act cool."

 

As Suno trailed off, Kotaro squeezed his hand tighter, meeting his gaze with an intensity that radiated genuine care.

 

"…Honestly, I can't just leave you alone like this."

 

"…Huh?"

 

"As long as you're here, I'll stay by your side."

 

"…W-wait, that's not okay! You're still in high school, I can't let you get involved in something like—"

 

"It doesn't matter. I'm telling you, I'll protect you."

 

"…Protect me." He'd never heard those words directed at him before.

 

The warmth in Kotaro's eyes, the conviction in his voice—it was unmistakably real.

 

"…Thank you."

 

"D-don't mention it. Besides, it's summer break, and I just retired from club activities, so I've got time."

 

"…Right."

 

He'd always been afraid.

 

Afraid of performing on stage, where Alpha pheromones hung thick in the air. Afraid of the hands that reached out to touch him afterward, lecherous and unrelenting.

 

But he was a keeper of the classical arts. He couldn't afford to let those things affect him.

 

He'd always worn a seductive smile, deftly deflecting Alpha advances, pretending to be above it all…

 

"…Thank you."

 

With his gaze lowered, Suno murmured the words again, squeezing Kotaro's hand in return.

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