Ashen Moon: Volume 2 - Chapter 8

The content warning is in the footnotes⁰.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

In a third-floor private room of a Chinese restaurant known for its delicious shark fin, Kato faced Itokawa. In the middle of the 13 square meters space was a red lacquered round table, which could seat four or five people, but today it was just the two of them.

Their seats were by the window, and through the glass, they could see the colorful umbrellas of people below illuminated by streetlights. It had been drizzling since morning, and the rain continued into the night, pattering on the umbrellas of passersby.

The chime of a text message brought Kato out of his thoughts as he looked out the window. "Excuse me," he said to Itokawa, checking his phone. It was from Yoshino: "Everything is ready, we can proceed anytime."

After closing the message, Kato checked the weather forecast. The national map showed unstable conditions, and rain was also predicted for Kobe.

"Sorry for the interruption," Kato said, placing his phone at the edge of the table. Itokawa, with a warm smile, said, "Don't worry about it."

"Young people today are noisy with their smartphones and text messages," Itokawa chuckled.

"It's the times," Kato replied nonchalantly. Itokawa touched his temple with his finger.

"I use emails on my cell phone too, but smartphones are beyond me. I don't understand them."

"You'll get used to it," Kato reassured.

"No, it's impossible. Our generation is analog," Itokawa said, shrugging slightly. His suit showed no signs of wrinkles or bulges, no hint of a gun holster.

Nowadays, yakuza don't carry guns unless there's a conflict. Carrying a knife is also rare unless there's a significant threat. The police are quick to arrest for violations, and it would also cause trouble for their bosses.

So far, Itokawa showed no suspicious behavior and came to the meeting alone. However, despite his calm appearance, Itokawa was sharp and required careful observation.

Kato had called Itokawa for a consultation. Even after starting their meal, they talked about trivial matters, avoiding the main topic. Itokawa didn't rush him either.

"I heard the boss's son is in Hokkaido for recuperation?" Itokawa said, gulping down a drink of Shaoxing wine.

"Yes," Kato nodded. "He wanted to take a break. He's been busy with the organization since the boss died."

After sending back the body of the hitman Hijima, cut into ten-centimeter pieces (3.9 in), the Abiko group had become unusually quiet.

Only Hijima's body was returned; Kondo and Kaneko were still missing. Fearing retaliation, even low-ranking members of the Abiko group avoided the borders of their territory.

Rumors of the Abiko group leader's retirement due to illness reached Kato. Whether true or not, the leader's potential successors were already fighting, with injuries reported. For now, their focus was inward, not outward.

After escaping to his regular cabaret club "Lavender," Kato had Soichi hide in a high-end inn in Kobe's mountains, with Hachi as a guard.

Kato then began investigating the Motohashi group with Yoshino's help. Although Itokawa remained cautious, one of his men, Ikeda, was suspiciously active.

Ikeda claimed ignorance but confessed he was ordered by Itokawa to monitor Hachi, which he found strange. Ikeda was hospitalized with a broken leg and instructed to claim he was hit by a car while drunk.

While suspicion towards Itokawa increased, merely monitoring Hachi was not enough evidence. Kato had a woman at Itokawa's regular bar drug his drink, allowing him to check Itokawa's phone while he slept.

The cautious Itokawa did not leave any phone logs or emails but copied his mobile phone's contact list and had all the numbers checked by his subordinates. As expected, several numbers with names like "Mihime" and "Momoyuri," typical for hostess club girls, were connected to people in the Abiko group. When one of them was detained and interrogated, they easily confessed their connection to Itokawa in exchange for their life. The incident of dismembering Hijima had a significant impact.

"Mr. Soichi injured his shoulder in this incident, so he's also taking time to recuperate."

"...That's right, the kid got injured."

Itokawa leaned over the table.

"A noble wound. He tracked down the person who killed his father and avenged him... His reputation in the group is soaring. By the way, I'm going to Hokkaido soon on some business. Where's the kid? I thought I'd see him."

A chill ran down my spine. Deliberately making a troubled expression, Kato bowed first.

"Sorry, but Mr. Soichi has ordered not to tell anyone his whereabouts. He wants to spend his time quietly without worrying about others."

"Come on," Itokawa laughed, waving his right hand.

"Not meeting even his own family is a bit too cold, don't you think? He hasn't gone into hiding because he's afraid of Abiko's revenge, has he? That would be disgraceful. If he's going to lead the group, he needs to be dignified."

If this were before I knew Itokawa was a traitor, I would have taken his words at face value. But now, I sensed an intention to find out his whereabouts behind his seemingly natural words.

"Mr. Soichi would appreciate your concern. However, he's scheduled to return next week... By the way, I heard from Yoshino that Ikeda got injured."

I changed the subject. Itokawa did not persist in the topic of Soichi and sighed.

"Yeah, that fool got hit by a car. It wasn't serious, just his leg."

Itokawa's expression showed only concern for his subordinate.

"Did they find the culprit?"

"It was at night on a deserted road. The main guy, Ikeda, was drunk and doesn't remember anything, so we're at a loss."

He believed Ikeda's lie as it was.

"Given the timing, could it be a grudge act by Abiko?"

"No way."

He responded instantly, even though he didn't know who it was.

"Hurting a low-rank member wouldn't benefit them at all. Plus, after killing the hitman, they're quite scared. I don't think they'd provoke us recklessly."

His certainty that it wasn't the Abiko group likely came from asking them directly. If there's a connection with them, it's easy to confirm.

Finally, the main dish, shark fin, was served. Itokawa, looking pleased, blew on the hot shark fin and sipped.

"This place is delicious as always."

Itokawa enjoyed the food, something I learned from Ikeda.

"...I plan to hold a meeting after the boss's 49th-day memorial. Currently, Mr. Soichi is acting as the boss, but I'd like to formally ask him to take over Motohashi group."

Itokawa, sipping the shark fin, squinted his eyes and motioned his chin dismissively.

"Hey, Kato. When did you get so important that you can manage Motohashi’s meetings?"

His voice was low, hiding no displeasure. Kato bowed his head, apologizing.

"I consulted with Mr. Yamahira and Mr. Katagiri, and we decided it would be best to do it soon after the 49th day."

"So I'm left out?" Itokawa sulked. Kato apologized again.

"The reason I called you here tonight is that I have a favor to ask."

Itokawa tilted his head.

"Didn't you say you had something to discuss? But if you've already talked to Yamahira and Katagiri, why do you need my advice?"

He picked up the last preserved egg with his chopsticks.

"I believe you know that the matriarch is very depressed. Recently, she's been saying she doesn't want to stay in Tokyo anymore and wants to return to Osaka. Considering she saw her husband die in front of her, it's understandable. We can't stop her if she wants to leave... Mr. Itokawa, could you go to Osaka with her?"

The silence was long. Suddenly, Itokawa laughed.

"You want me to take care of the late boss's wife?"

"We can't leave the boss's family without security, even if she's practically retired. The late boss's wife strongly desires Mr. Itokawa's presence."

...It wasn't a lie. She indeed mentioned feeling reassured if Itokawa were around.

After a moment of silence, Itokawa spoke.

"I've been taken care of by the late boss's wife for a long time, but she's her, and I'm me. Don't take a woman's indecisive words seriously. Or what? Are you saying I'm not needed in the new regime centered around the kid?"

I had anticipated several possible reactions from Itokawa, including him choosing to retreat to Osaka with her, but that was not the case.

"I don't want to take you all the way to Osaka either. But she insisted, so I had to ask. I'm sorry."

Itokawa leaned back in his chair, saying he understood Kato's need to save face.

After bringing up the "Osaka move," Itokawa became less talkative and drank more. Soon, his glass was empty, and Kato poured the third glass of Shaoxing wine.

"Speaking of the kid, how's his flashy man-playing going?"

A felt a headache coming.

"...He's calmed down now."

Itokawa chuckled through his nose.

"How long can he suppress his sexual desires? A person's nature can't be changed."

"Mr. Soichi mentioned that after avenging the boss, he plans to go to America."

The drunk, red-faced Itokawa asked, "America?"

"He said he's not fit to be a leader."

I see, Itokawa nodded deeply.

"He's smart and knows his own limitations... Also, I hear it's more open about liking men there than in Japan. It might be easier for the kid."

"Perhaps."

Laughing loudly, Itokawa suddenly swayed, pressing his forehead.

"...What's wrong?"

Leaning forward, he smiled wryly.

"Maybe I'm getting old. Can't handle this amount of alcohol... Pathetic."

Breathing out, Itokawa looked at his hands. His fingers trembled slightly.

"...Something's wrong."

Itokawa slowly raised his head and looked at Kato.

"...You... you..."

His narrow eyes widened. Kato stood up, kicked the chair hard, and Itokawa rolled with a loud noise, groaning on the floor.

"You... Kato..."

He tried to stand but couldn't muster the strength.

"You sold information about the boss's hospitalization to the Abiko group, bribed members to weaken the security, and had him killed. Then you tried to eliminate me."

Ignoring Kato, Itokawa grabbed the tablecloth, trying to use it to stand, but it only dragged along, causing plates and cups to crash to the floor.

"The boss of the Motohashi group is Mr. Soichi... Not you."

"..."

Unable to speak properly, Itokawa desperately tried to open his heavy eyelids.

"Mr. Soichi, I, and the executives don't like internal strife. You will voluntarily withdraw due to illness and retire to the countryside. For now, I'll take your finger and money until the new boss Mr. Soichi approves."

Itokawa bared his teeth and glared at Kato, but gradually closed his eyes and stopped moving. As the black-market doctor had warned, "If you give him too much, he'll stop breathing and die," the sleeping pills mixed into his food and drink worked well. Kato called Yoshino into the room, and the three of them left the store, carrying the sleeping Itokawa. They shoved the unconscious man into the car parked in the back lot.

"Don't forget to cut off a finger, any finger," Kato reminded Yoshino as he got into the driver's seat. The car carrying Itokawa disappeared into the darkness, and Kato coughed lightly from the smell of exhaust fumes. The mountains an hour away from here would become Itokawa's grave. They would strip him naked to prevent identification, drop him into a pre-dug deep hole, and cover him with soil. Kato didn’t know when Itokawa would suffocate under all that soil, but the moment he took his last breath, the retaliation against those who had directly or indirectly harmed the boss would truly come to an end.

Kato could not forgive Itokawa for selling out the boss's information and having him killed. And he wanted to know why he had done such a reckless thing. If it was because of the woman, he would have agreed without hesitation when asked to go to Osaka together. But Itokawa had flatly refused that proposal. That made Kato realize that Itokawa wasn't just after the woman; he had orchestrated this incident to target the top of the organization. If left unchecked, this man would target Kato or Soichi again, using even more cunning methods next time.

People are not always what they appear to be, and in the end, a yakuza is a yakuza. No matter how decent they seem, they are fundamentally insane. No sane person would try to live in this world. Kato found it ironic that despite all the killing, this world was still bound by emotions.

The rain had stopped. Kato began to walk through the damp night air, feeling a slight chill. The wet dead leaves crunched underfoot. Before the boss died, Kato had seen mirages on the asphalt. Now that the traitor within their ranks had been dealt with, summer was over, and the signs of autumn were creeping in.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

He arrived at a rural station where tickets had to be handed over directly to the stationmaster. The sky was covered with thick clouds, making it unusually dark for 3 p.m. A small bus provided by the inn operated on a regular schedule, but since he had to wait about thirty minutes, Kato hailed a taxi in front of the station.

When he told the driver the name of the inn, the driver said, "You're staying there? That's a nice place. It's quite expensive, though," in unusually clear standard Japanese, not typical of Kansai. The taxi left the station and soon entered a narrow road without a median. The car raced through the green mountainside along a winding road, making Kato wonder if there really was an inn ahead.

After about twenty minutes, the view finally opened up a bit, and old houses began to appear sporadically. At the end of the road, a large gate resembling that of a feudal lord's mansion came into view, and the taxi passed through it. In front was a large single-story building, and to the left was a parking lot with several luxury cars.

"Welcome," said Hachi, who was waiting outside the inn despite Kato not informing him of his arrival at the station. Hachi was the only one Kato trusted to look after Soichi. Conversely, it meant that Kato couldn’t trust anyone else apart from Hachi and Yoshino.

After checking in, Hachi led Kato through the inn. The south side of the spacious lobby of the main building was glassed in, offering a view of the garden. The inn had a rustic charm but was well-maintained. All the guest rooms were separate from the main building, connected by covered walkways.

"How is Soichi?" Kato asked.

"He's in his room," Hachi replied. Soichi had spent over a month at this inn until the matter with Itokawa was settled.

"Did he go out during his stay here?"

Hachi shook his head. "Just to walk in the garden. He didn't step outside the inn's grounds. He bought his clothes and other necessities online."

"This way," Hachi said, leading Kato to Soichi's room at the end of a covered walkway. A wooden plaque read "Rhododendron Room."

"You've done well. I'm going to talk with Soichi alone. I'll be staying here tonight, so there's no need for security. You can go into town," Kato said, pulling several ten-thousand-yen bills from his wallet and slipping them into Hachi's shirt pocket. "We'll leave for Tokyo tomorrow. Be prepared."

Hachi nodded and walked back down the covered walkway. Kato knocked on the sliding door with old-fashioned, distorted glass set into it.

"It's Kato," he called out, but there was no response. "Soichi?" he tried again, knocking once more. There was no sound from inside. He tried the door, but it was locked with a metallic click.

"Is there something you need from the guest in that room?" a middle-aged woman in a crimson work uniform asked, bowing as she approached from the walkway. She appeared to be an inn employee.

"Yes, but there's no response..."

"I saw him in the garden earlier," the woman said.

Kato thanked her and stepped into the garden with its dense foliage. When Hachi had shown him around, he had joked, "This garden is so large you might get lost." Kato had laughed it off at the time, but now he found the many winding paths to be like a maze. The sky was overcast, and the dense branches blocked out the light, making it feel like dusk. As he walked, stepping on the damp grass, he heard the first few drops of rain hitting the leaves.

The rain quickly intensified, and Kato looked around for shelter, spotting a small structure through the branches. He ran along the path and ducked under the roof. There, he found a slender man in a gray cardigan and jeans, who turned around slowly. The eyes behind the glasses widened, and the man murmured, "Kato?"

Kato didn't recognize Soichi at first, despite being familiar with his back.

"It's been a while," Kato said.

Soichi placed a hand on his chest and sighed. "You startled me, appearing out of nowhere."

"Sorry. I heard you were in the garden," Kato said, as the rain grew louder. Soichi removed his glasses and wiped the raindrops from the lenses with his sleeve. Hachi had reported that Soichi had bought a pair of glasses as a disguise shortly after arriving here.

"So you've taken care of everything," Soichi said.

"Yes," Kato replied with a nod. When he had sent Soichi west, he had only said, "I'll contact you once everything is settled," and hadn't been in touch since. Hachi had kept Kato updated on Soichi’s condition, but Soichi hadn’t asked Hachi about the organization or Kato.

"The one leaking information from the Motohashi group was indeed Itokawa. I suspected there might be others, but it seems he acted alone."

"I see," Soichi said, nodding in understanding. Although it had only been a month since they last met, Soichi, who was never large to begin with, seemed even thinner.

"What did you do with him?" Soichi asked.

"We didn't want outsiders to know about our internal strife, so officially, we said he left for medical reasons, but we've taken care of him."

"Understood," Soichi replied briefly, a sense of relief evident in his response. The rain intensified, and his slender shoulders shivered violently.

"Are you cold?" Kato asked, noticing that Soichi's cardigan was soaked through.

"I'll get an umbrella. Please wait here," Kato said, but Soichi stopped him.

"No need."

"But..."

"It's unnecessary," Soichi insisted, running out into the rain. Kato hurried after him. Despite the maze-like paths, Soichi navigated them without hesitation.

The distance from the gazebo to the "Rhododendron Room" wasn’t far, but the heavy rain had soaked them both by the time they reached the room. From the main building’s corridor, a high-pitched female voice exclaimed, "Oh my, oh my!" It was the woman in the crimson uniform who had told Kato about Soichi being in the garden.

"You’re both drenched..."

"I'm sorry, but could I borrow another yukata? A larger one," Soichi asked.

"Yes, I will bring it immediately," replied the woman, disappearing into the main house.

"You can use the one that's coming. I have my own," Soichi said as he unlocked the door and entered the room. Kato also had his own room, so he had a change of yukata there, but refusing the offer would have been impolite.

The cottage-style accommodation had a large entrance and a three-step genkan despite the size of the building. Kato’s room had the same basic layout.

Soichi took off his cardigan at the entrance. His back wasn’t too wet, but the front of his shirt was soaked, clinging to his skin and forming a smooth mound along his chest. The distinct shape of his nipples was visible, making Kato avert his gaze from Soichi’s chest.

Water dripped from Soichi’s long bangs. He brushed them back irritably, making his chest move prominently.

"I'm going to change first," Soichi said, climbing the steps and heading to the back of the room. Kato sat on the step of the entrance after Soichi disappeared from view.

Without binding his chest, the bulge was unmistakable. Though binding was certainly restrictive... Even though Kato knew Soichi had altered his body, seeing it again made him uneasy.

Soon, a woman in a samue brought a yukata. It was a subdued pigeon gray color, resembling a kimono more than a yukata.

Kato asked the woman to wait for a moment, went to the changing room, quickly changed, and returned to the entrance. He asked her to dry his clothes by tomorrow. He had spare underwear but no other outerwear. The woman, accustomed to dealing with wealthy and demanding customers, agreed pleasantly.

In his yukata, Soichi was sitting on a sofa by the window, gazing blankly outside. Without binding, the yukata revealed a bulge on his chest, but it could be concealed with a haori.

Kato knelt beside the sofa, composed himself, and sat upright.

"I apologize for the long inconvenience," he said, bowing deeply. When he looked up, Soichi was gazing at him with unreadable eyes.

"Tomorrow morning, members of the group will come to pick you up by car," Kato said. Soichi turned his gaze back to the misty garden, focusing on the sound of the rain.

"After returning to Tokyo and holding the forty-ninth-day memorial for the boss, we will have a meeting where your succession as head of the Motohashi group will be decided," Kato said. Soichi's eyes flickered slightly.

"No one in the organization objects to you becoming the head," Kato continued. The executives respected Soichi for avenging his predecessor, who had been his father.

All traitors had been dealt with, and everything was ready. Kato just needed to bring Soichi back to the group.

"I have no intention of succeeding the organization," Soichi said calmly. Kato swallowed hard.

"The situation is different now. Everyone sincerely wants you as the head," Kato insisted. He believed Soichi had wanted to take over the group.

"As I said before, I’m going to America. I don't intend to come back for a while. You take over the group," Soichi said, looking Kato in the eye.

"But—"

"I won't take over the group. I don't want to."

"But—"

"Don't worry. I’ll continue making money for you. That’s my only skill," Soichi said, laughing bitterly and running a hand through his damp hair.

"You led the avenging mission for the boss," Kato said.

"I just gave the order to find him and waited for reports. You were the one actually in charge," Soichi replied, crossing his legs and looking back outside.

"I'm tired," Soichi muttered.

"I don’t care anymore. If you don't want to take over, give it to Yamahira or Katagiri or whoever wants it," Soichi said.

"That's irresponsible—"

"Originally, my father never intended for me to take over," Soichi said, cutting Kato off.

"The situation is different now," Kato said.

"It's not different. If you say you'll do it, no one will object," Soichi said.

Kato felt a sense of urgency. Soichi wasn’t just being stubborn or giving up; he truly meant it.

"Do you want to distance yourself from the organization and this world?" Kato asked.

Soichi didn’t answer.

"If you want to distance yourself, it doesn’t have to be abroad," Kato said. Since being assaulted, Soichi had become extremely fearful of people, needing constant companionship. If he could go out alone in America, maybe he sought psychological freedom where no one would target him.

No, Soichi no longer had excessive security during Kato’s two years in Osaka. Even here, with only Hachi as his guard, Soichi walked around the inn grounds alone.

Considering the reasons for Soichi's silence, Kato suspected a romantic entanglement. In a foreign country, news of his affairs wouldn’t reach back here.

An unsettling feeling gnawed at Kato. Could it be...?

"Do you plan to undergo further body modifications in America?" Kato asked.

Soichi's white Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"It's none of your business," Soichi replied.

"Do you want to become a woman and be embraced by men in a place where no one knows you?" Kato pressed.

Soichi’s thin neck tightened as he stood and kicked Kato in the shoulder. Unprepared, Kato fell backward.

"What do you know?" Soichi shouted.

Sitting up halfway, Kato answered, "I don’t understand why you altered your body in such a way."

"Get out!" Soichi screamed, pointing to the entrance.

Instead of leaving, Kato approached Soichi, apologized, and grabbed the front of Soichi’s yukata, spreading it wide. Soichi's round, pale breasts shook.

"No—"

Kato lifted Soichi's left arm, exposing a faint pink scar under his armpit. Shot in the right shoulder, such a scar wouldn’t have formed there; it was from the chest surgery. Anger surged within Kato.

"Removing that bulge wouldn’t be difficult," Kato said coldly, surprising even himself. Soichi slapped Kato’s hand away and huddled on the tatami.

"It's my body! I won’t be ordered around by you!" Soichi cried.

Kato grabbed Soichi and moved him to a large three-way mirror in the corner, stripping off his yukata despite Soichi’s resistance.

"Look at your body in the mirror," Kato commanded.

Soichi refused, shaking his head violently. Kato pulled down Soichi’s boxer shorts to his knees, forcing him to see his male physique.

"Look at the mirror. You have a penis and scrotum. You’re completely male. There’s no need to create such a false chest," Kato insisted.

Soichi only shook his head more. Kato grabbed Soichi’s left breast, making him scream in pain.

"Don’t grab it roughly!"

"It’s just a silicone implant. I could crush it right now, forcing its removal," Kato threatened.

"No, no!" Soichi cried, struggling like a feral cat. Losing his grip, Kato collapsed, still holding Soichi.

"I won’t let you go to America," Kato declared firmly into Soichi's ear.

"No matter how much you hate it, you will sit in the leader’s chair," Kato continued, watching Soichi's eyes well up with tears.

"This body will be restored," Kato said.

Having finally gained the trust of the veteran executives and members, Soichi couldn’t afford to lose it now. Kato resolved to use sedatives if necessary to remove the implants.

There’s no perfect person. As long as Soichi maintained his ideal public persona, Kato could ignore his private behavior. Even if Soichi was promiscuous with men, his public duties came first.

"If you want men, I’ll arrange them as before. As long as you don’t flaunt it and manage the group properly, no one will complain," Kato said.

"I don’t want men!"

Soichi’s denial lacked credibility with his altered body. Kato grabbed both of Soichi’s breasts from behind.

"If you don’t want men, why did you get these? Explain it to me," Kato demanded, feeling a murderous rage at the soft flesh under his fingers. There's a world of difference between being mocked as a bitch and being a real bitch. No matter how much he’s insulted, he must not become the "real thing".

"I didn’t make them for men!"

"Liar!"

"Get out!" Soichi screamed again.

"Never," Kato said, tightening his grip.

"Ouch, it hurts!"

"I'm asking you why!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Just take it, cut it out, do whatever you want with it!" Soichi yelled.

Kato let go, leaving red finger marks on the bulges on his chest. Soichi pulled up his boxer shorts, which had slid down to his knees, and wrapped himself in his yukata. His hand stopped as he tried to tie the sash, and he crouched down as if he could no longer hold it in, groaning and gagging. It wasn't yet five o'clock, but the room was dark, perhaps due to the weather. Behind Soichi's sobbing, the sound of the rain echoed monotonously. Kato approached the slumped man gently.

"When you get back, will you take care of it right away?"

He didn't even try to look. Waiting for a response, Soichi finally raised his upper body slowly. His head hung down dully, but he gradually lifted it. With trembling hands, he opened the disheveled yukata wide at the chest. His pale, round breast, marked with pink finger prints, was exposed.

"...Lick it."

With the solemnity of a lamb to the slaughter, the weak order was given. From what he was saying, it was clear he was asking to have his breast licked, but the psychology of making such a demand in this situation was incomprehensible.

This wasn't like a professional woman brazenly exposing her chest. This was a man destined to become the head of the Motohashi clan. Kato silently closed the front of the yukata, indicating his refusal. Soichi then violently threw off the yukata.

"No matter how much I say I don't want it, you'll make me take it off anyway. If it's going to be gone anyway, then before that..."

With his mouth half open, he twisted his face in disgust.

"Don't go to America. Become the leader... you keep making demands on me. You could at least listen to one of my requests!"

And the only thing he desires is for someone to suck on his artificial breasts. The ridiculousness of it all was beyond exasperation; it was becoming pathetic. Being beaten for an unreasonable reason would be better than this.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Kato stood up, closed the shoji screen, and turned on the room light. He picked up the discarded yukata, draped it over Soichi's bare shoulders, and supported his back.

"...You'll catch a cold."

The man who had demanded to have his chest licked lowered his head.

"Isn't it almost time for dinner?"

He looked up at the clock on the wall. The yukata was pulled slightly. Soichi was clutching the hem of Kato's yukata with trembling hands.

"...Please..."

His voice was so small it was almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.

"...Please...lick it."

As Kato stepped back, the fingers let go.

"Do you usually have your meals brought to your room? I heard there's a place to eat inside the inn as well."

Ignoring the plea, Soichi stood up slowly and walked to the corner of the room. After rummaging through his bag, he returned.

"...I want to buy your time."

In his outstretched hand was a bundle of ten thousand yen notes. The despair upon seeing it was beyond words.

"Just for five or ten minutes..."

Even though he understood the meaning, Kato feigned ignorance.

"You don't need to pay me. I will work for you as much as you want, Mr. Soichi."

"That's not what I mean..."

"Anything except being your nighttime companion."

Kato declared firmly.

"I'm not a hostess girl. No matter how much you pay, I won't be your companion in that sense."

Soichi raised his right hand and threw the money at Kato. The crumpled ten thousand yen notes scattered on the tatami like trash. Soichi's mouth twitched convulsively.

"Uwaaah!"

He screamed towards the ceiling and suddenly dashed out. Before he could process it, Soichi had already run outside. Kato hurriedly chased after him. It was raining outside. Soichi was wearing only underwear with a yukata draped over it, without a sash, leaving the front wide open.

"Mr. Soichi!"

Soichi ran through the dark garden, lit only by sporadic streetlamps. He wasn't even wearing shoes.

"Aaah!"

His scream was absorbed into the evening darkness and rain, sending chills down Kato's spine. It wasn't the cold rain that caused it. That man might have lost his mind.

Soichi fell midway, allowing Kato to catch up and grab his arm.

"Calm down, calm down!"

Soichi flailed his limbs like a baby, screaming and struggling in the muddy path, soaked and filthy.

"...I'm sorry."

Whether he heard it or not, Kato muttered an apology and lightly punched Soichi in the stomach.

Soichi's violent movements halted for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Kato lifted him, applied pressure to his carotid artery, and made him lose consciousness.

Carrying the now quiet man, Kato quickly returned to the room, wrapping him in the muddy yukata. Fortunately, they didn't encounter any guests or staff in the garden due to the rain.

Kato removed Soichi's dirty yukata, wiped him down with a wet towel, and dressed him in clean underwear. He called the maid to lay out the futon early and bring a change of clothes. He canceled their dinner since they usually ate in the room.

Dressing Soichi in a new yukata, Kato hesitated but eventually tied his hands with a sash. If Soichi woke up and started acting violently again, it would be unmanageable. Although he could call Hachi for help, he had given him the day off and didn't want anyone to see Soichi like this. Hachi was trustworthy and discreet, but still... it was better not to involve him.

The future leader lay pale-faced. Sitting beside him, Kato held his temples. He hadn't expected Soichi to react this way. Had he pushed him too far? Should he leave his chest as is to maintain his mental stability? If he wrapped it tightly, no one would notice in public.

"...Mm..."

The thin body moved slightly. After a brief shiver, Soichi's thin eyelids slowly opened.

His unfocused eyes looked at Kato.

"I apologize for handling you roughly."

Before Soichi could speak, he coughed lightly.

"Are you alright?"

Kato rubbed Soichi's back through the futon. Noticing his wrists bound with the sash, Soichi shook them curiously.

"You were quite agitated, so I tied your hands for safety."

Soichi wiggled his wrists for a while but eventually sighed and closed his eyes. He didn't say to untie them.

"...My stomach hurts."

He murmured. It must have been from being punched in the garden.

"I'm sorry."

"It hurts."

Soichi's eyes filled with tears. Though Kato had been gentle, he began to worry it might have been too much.

"I'll have Hachi get some painkillers."

"No need."

Despite refusing, tears streamed down Soichi's cheeks.

A flash of lightning lit up the window. A loud thunderclap followed, shaking the room slightly. The lights went out.

"...A blackout."

Kato approached the window. The main house and garden lights were also out, leaving only the sound of the rain in complete darkness.

"Kato."

Soichi's voice came from the darkness.

"Yes."

"Your voice sounds far away."

Kato returned to the bedside, now accustomed to the darkness.

"The streetlights are out too. The sound was loud; it might have struck nearby."

The blackout was a relief; he didn't have to see Soichi's tear-streaked face.

"I won't go to America."

Soichi's voice echoed in the dark.

"I'll become the leader. I'll do everything you say."

Finally, he understood. As Kato strained to see Soichi's face in the darkness, he spoke again.

"...So, just for tonight, treat me like a woman."

Kato could hear his trembling breath.

"Just for tonight. I won't ask for anything like this ever again. I won't trouble you."

And then, Soichi continued.

"In the dark, you can't see my face. Just think of me as a one-time escort."

The desperation in his voice was painfully clear. What would happen if he refused? Would Soichi become deranged and run outside again? He couldn't afford to let that happen, not only for himself but for everyone else. The last time, no one saw them in the garden due to the rain, but what if it happened at the office? The image of the future leader would be shattered instantly.

"...Just for tonight, right?"

Soichi answered, "Yes."

"Can you keep that promise?"

"I won't lie to you."

In the darkness, a black silhouette floated on the futon. If only this memory could be erased. It would be best to end it quickly while it was still dark.

Kato approached the silhouette on the futon and asked,

"...How do you want to be held?"

After a brief silence, Soichi replied,

"However you like."

◇:*:◆:*:◇

Whether it was a man or a woman, embracing someone wasn't difficult. All it required was inserting an erect penis into a fleshy opening. He doesn’t need any mental or emotional connection to satisfy his sexual desire.

In an extreme scenario, as long as it felt good, he could get hard even if a dog was licking his penis. He knew himself best.

Soichi said it would be just for tonight, but he couldn't be trusted. If he got a taste for this, there would be more "tonights," which would be a problem. This encounter couldn't leave him with pleasant memories. Even if a dish were made with rare ingredients, if it tasted bad, no one would take the trouble to make it again.

In the dark, Kato groped his way over the shadow of the person. He placed his hand on the barely visible face. Soichi's breath touched his fingertips.

When he brought his nose close to the warm neck, a strong scent reminiscent of a warm meadow filled his senses. He couldn't tell if it was body odor or mixed with cologne, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Kato rubbed the fragrant neck with his thumb.

"You still smell like a man," he said with a deliberately mocking tone. The body under him shivered and twisted violently.

"What's wrong?"

"Untie me. I need to take a shower."

Kato restrained the body trying to escape from under him and removed the wrist restraints.

"It'll take too long. Just stay like this... I want to get this over with quickly."

He spoke harshly. The body that had been so compliant a moment ago stiffened noticeably. Though he couldn't see the expression, Soichi was likely self-conscious about the smell. Kato pretended not to notice and kissed him. At first, the lips trembled, but as he licked them with his tongue, they responded, opening wide. And then, Soichi's tongue entangled with Kato's, like a cat engrossed in a toy.

It was relentless but skillful. He knew how to touch the weak spots inside the mouth. Kato preferred an eager woman over a shy one. He closed his eyes and let himself indulge in the pleasure.

After a while, he pulled back from the kiss. Soichi's tongue brushed against Kato's lower lip, lingeringly. Kato held the unseen face in his hands.

"You're a bad kisser," he said.

Even if he spoke harshly, Soichi's face couldn't be seen.

"Licking around inside like a dog isn't appealing. And you're rough and unrefined."

"So...rry," Soichi's voice was small and came from the darkness.

"Since it's only for tonight and as long as I can tolerate it, I'll endure."

He felt Soichi's grip on his right arm tighten painfully.

"I... I'll do it right..."

"You don't need to worry about me. Besides, it won't matter if you do."

"But..."

"There's nothing more foolish than arguing in bed... Can you start by sucking me off?"

Soichi's hand touched Kato's waist. He groped around to find the spot, then buried his face in Kato's groin. His tongue slid over the semi-erect tip, then wrapped around the shaft like a snake. He meticulously sucked on the base and then took it into his warm mouth.

The tightness in the throat was intensely pleasurable.

In the past, when Kato had chosen partners for Soichi, one of the men had laughed, saying Soichi was bad at blowjobs. That remark had stuck with him, but now Soichi was skillfully using his tongue. After dozens, no, hundreds of times sucking men's cocks, he'd improved.

While licking the slightly sweet precum off the tip, Soichi gently massaged Kato's scrotum. No matter "who" was doing "what," the stimulation brought pleasure.

Grabbing Soichi's hair, Kato thrust deep and came in his mouth. Even when pulling out, Soichi's lips sucked on the shaft as if reluctant to let go.

"It was decent. Not as good as a professional, though. But sometimes your teeth grazed, which was unpleasant."

It wasn't significant but worth mentioning.

"So...rry..."

"I'm sure there are men satisfied with your tongue work. Can you lie on your back now?"

The shadow on the futon lay down. Since Kato had just come, he was still limp. As he explored Soichi's groin, he found him hard, his scrotum tightened. Just from kissing and sucking, he was already like this. His sensitivity hadn't changed.

Kato touched Soichi's side. There was no soft waistline; his abs were firm and hard. As his fingers slid upwards, they encountered something soft. He grasped the artificial breast. The nipples had also been enhanced, with enough volume to pinch. The texture and softness were just like a woman's. Without being told it was fake, one wouldn't know. And no straight man would dislike this feel.

Kato kneaded the overflowing breasts repeatedly.

"Mm...fu..."

A small moan escaped his lips. Soichi longed for this... to have his fake nipples in Kato's mouth.

"Ah..."

A sweet breath tickled Kato's ear. He teased Soichi's nipples with his tongue, sucking hard.

"Ah... Ah..."

The intensified scent of Soichi and the feel of his erect nipples drove Kato to roughly knead the other breast.

"Ah... Nnn... Fuh..."

Soichi's upper body writhed, and he ground his hips against Kato, pressing his erection into Kato's stomach. Kato alternated between sucking on both nipples, biting them lightly afterward.

"Hah..."

Soichi's body shuddered as if electrified.

"Can you keep your voice down?" Kato asked the unseen figure beneath him. "Pretending I'm with a woman and hearing a low voice ruins the mood."

... After that, there were no more sounds. However, it was impossible for a body this sensitive not to make any noise. Despite trying to control himself, small moans still escaped Soichi's lips. His body tensed unnaturally, as if trying not to feel too much.

"You feel pleasure when your breasts are touched, don't you?" Kato teased, squeezing both breasts he had just been sucking on and shaking them. "To create these just to be toyed with by men... you're such a hopeless pervert. Well, I knew that from the beginning."

Soichi's body trembled, and Kato felt a warm wetness on his abdomen. The smell of fresh semen filled the air.

"... Did you just come?"

Kato touched his abdomen, feeling the sticky substance.

"Don't you dare cum on my stomach without permission. It's already unpleasant that semen smells bad to begin with."

"... So... rry..."

"I told you not to apologize," Kato reminded him. He took the semen on his fingers and reached for Soichi's rear. It was unexpectedly tight. In the two years Kato had been away, it seemed Soichi's dildo had been his only partner, leaving the area as tight as a virgin.

Kato slowly loosened the area, pretending to continue his unsatisfactory performance. He didn't want to hurt Soichi. Gradually, the tight entrance remembered its previous use, becoming soft enough to take Kato's shaft. He positioned himself at the entrance, slowly pushing in. Despite having taken so many men before, Soichi's insides were tight. Kato had to stop moving several times to avoid coming too soon.

After pushing in deep enough that his pubic hair was pressed against his ass, he began to move his hips slowly. The inside quivered in response, but no sounds came from Soichi. Combined with the darkness, it felt like making love to a doll. Wondering if Soichi was even enjoying it, Kato touched his erection again, finding it hard despite the recent ejaculation.

"Can you tighten your muscles more?" he asked. The entrance squeezed him, and while it felt good, Kato sighed loudly. "Is that all you can manage?"

The entrance tightened again. "That's enough. There's not much difference. This is the best a man can do, I suppose. After all, it's not an organ meant for intercourse. I remember enjoying it more before..."

Kato pretended to ponder. "Maybe having too much sex with men has stretched you out. If that's the case, someone my size probably doesn't satisfy you."

Contrary to his words, the entrance was tight. As he moved, he touched Soichi's front. "It seems you're enjoying yourself enough. Or will anything do?"

There was no response.

"You used to have sex with two or three men at a time, didn't you? If it were a man and a woman, watching would be like a porno, but watching multiple men tangle is honestly painful."

Kato thrust deep inside Soichi, only the tightness around his shaft and the thighs he touched felt real.

"I'm not criticizing same-sex relationships. But finding someone who understands your preferences would be more constructive. I can't be satisfied with you, but there are men who would appreciate your body... so choose your partners wisely."

But... Kato continued, "It's good it's dark. If I could see your face, I don't know if I'd be able to stay hard."

Without sight, expressions were hidden. As Kato felt his climax approaching, he deliberately held back. Contrary to the abusive words he was intentionally throwing at him, he wanted to enjoy this intense pleasure a little longer.

A faint buzzing sound was followed by a flickering of the room's lights, then they came on fully.

Suddenly, the harsh reality was visible. The man under him, holding the edge of his yukata in his mouth, was crying.

This was clearly not a face of someone lost in pleasure.

"Ah..."

Soichi murmured, grabbing the yukata next to his head to hide his face.

"Turn off the light..."

Kato couldn't get up in this situation. He moved his hips to finish, but Soichi's muffled voice yelled, "Turn off the light, now!"

"Wait a moment..."

"No, I can't..." Soichi resisted, but Kato pinned his hips down and moved more forcefully.

"No... no... ah... ah..."

Even without seeing his face, the sight of his pale chest heaving felt like rape, filling Kato with guilt as he released himself inside Soichi's warm body.

When he withdrew, remnants of his desire dripped from the lewd opening. Soichi, still erect, sat up and turned off the light. Reality once again sank into darkness.

The black silhouette returned to Kato's side, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. He couldn't ask why Soichi was crying. In the deliberately crafted darkness, the sound of rain returned to their awareness.

"Is it over already?"

Words floated through the darkness.

"... It's still night."

There was a faint sound of rustling fabric. Despite having cried, was he still wanting more?

"If you don't want to, that's fine..."

The fading words left a sting in Kato's chest. Was he feeling sympathy for this man? He was the one who had hurled insults and created this humiliating sexual encounter.

He sensed the shadow moving.

"Where are you going?"

A small sigh reached his ears.

"... I'm going to wash up."

Instinctively, Kato grabbed the shadow. It felt like a leg under his fingers, transmitting a low warmth that sent a shiver through his body, reigniting the heat he'd just released. His honest reaction both excited and disgusted him.

"Let go..."

The leg struggled, but Kato pulled it back onto the futon. Before he could rationalize his actions, he covered the shadow. Like a bee drawn to a flower, he pressed his nose to Soichi's neck, feeling him shiver. The scent was a mix of a sweet, heavy aroma and the smell of semen.

"Not the neck... it stinks..."

Ignoring the protest, Kato licked. "No, no," came the genuine cries, fueling his heat further. He grasped Soichi's erect member, feeling the heat and excitement.

"Don't touch it..."

Soichi refused the caress.

"You don't have to do what you hate anymore," Soichi said.

Though he never had sadistic tendencies, the resisting voice spurred him on. He squeezed Soichi's member, gripping the tip, eliciting a sweet, breathy moan. But after that, no matter how much he caressed him, he couldn't hear him. When Kato touched Soichi's mouth, he found something clenched between his teeth. He took it away and replaced it with his fingers.

"Don't bite," he whispered in his ear, massaging Soichi's penis and testicles.

"Mmph... mmph... ah..."

Unable to bite, soft moans reminiscent of a cat's cries escaped Soichi's lips.

"Kato...Fu..."

He seemed to be trying to speak but couldn't form coherent words. Kato's fingers explored his mouth, causing obscene, wet sounds as saliva pooled. Eventually, Soichi timidly licked Kato's fingers, gradually sucking them.

"Does my finger taste good?"

There was no answer. Kato positioned his fully erect member at Soichi's tight entrance, which readily accepted him. The tightness within felt like a vise, pushing Kato to the edge.

"Ah... ah..."

Soichi arched his back, writhing in response.

"Does it feel good here?"

Rubbing the shallow part of the entrance, Kato provoked a frenzy in Soichi.

"It feels good, doesn't it? Do you want more?"

As he thrusted, he grasped Soichi's erect member. The body beneath him tensed.

"No... I can't... no..."

"It doesn't feel bad, does it?"

A sudden rush of pleasure consumed Soichi, his moans turning into a helpless cry.

"My voice... I can’t..."

As he continued to stimulate his sensitive parts, Soichi could only moan.

"Hah...Ahh..."

Soichi's desire swells as he tightens around Kato, letting him know he's near his limit.

"I'm...coming," he pleads weakly.

"I'm coming..."

Kato tightens his fingers around the base of Soichi’s penis, which feels like it's about to burst.

"Hahh!"

The lewd hole tightens with deadly force around the cock that's been swallowed up.

"Hand...hand...let go."

"Please wait a little longer."

"No. No...heh, I'm feeling weird."

He grips Soichi's base, stopping him from coming. His insides were entangling with Kato's member, making a lewd sound.

"Hii...Ahhh...Y-yes, y-yes..."

Kato, sensing his own climax approaching, removed his hand from Soichi's member and thrust forcefully.

"Ah... ah... ah..."

With a final scream, Soichi came, his insides clamping down on Kato's member. Almost simultaneously, Kato released inside him.

Afterward, Soichi's body continued to twitch pleasantly. Even a light touch to his side made him let out a hoarse "Ah!". Kato grabbed both nipples, making Soichi try to pull his hands away, crying out "Stop!"

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

Manipulating the sensitive nipples, Kato made Soichi shake his head violently.

"It feels good... too good... I'm dying..."

The hoarse voice, despite its roughness, carried an erotic allure. Wanting to hear it, Kato continued to caress the overly sensitive body. It seemed like even a slightest touch was painful, making Soichi squirm in Kato’s arms like a bird unable to fly.

Exhausted from the constant stimulation, Soichi lay limp. Kato entered him from behind again, making Soichi cry out as if a switch had been flipped. The erotic body arched, the entrance tightening rhythmically.

"Ah... ah..."

That body, now only able to moan, was like a doll.

"Kato, no..."

Soichi shook his head.

"Don't... don't rub there... I'll die..."

Soichi's breathing grew erratic.

"I'm sorry, but I have to finish."

"No... something's coming out..."

"If you want to come, go ahead."

"... No..."

Soichi pressed his face into the sheets.

"Are you about to come?"

"It feels weird... something's coming... I don't like it..."

Kato gently bit Soichi's ear, causing his body to stiffen.

"Ah... ah..."

A small scream was accompanied by a sound of fluid. Kato quickly grabbed a cloth and pressed it to Soichi's groin. It wasn't much, but it was clearly different from semen.

Sometimes women lose control during sex, but he didn't know that men could urinate too if they got too excited.

The man, who had made an embarrassing mess, lost consciousness with Kato still inside him.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

Kato awoke to the blinding sunlight on his face. He was momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar room. He saw someone's back, sitting right next to the futon, wearing a dove-gray yukata draped over his shoulders, staring blankly out the window. Gradually, the memories of the previous night came flooding back.

After their encounter, Kato had cleaned up the soiled sheets and futon and replaced them with fresh ones from the closet. Though he had wiped down Soichi’s body, he had not stirred as if the nerves that would make him move had been cut. Feeling too weary to return to his own room, Kato had climbed into the fresh futon next to Soichi and slept.

The rain from yesterday had completely cleared, and the sound of birds could be heard. The small face, long neck, and gentle curves of Soichi’s breasts were backlit, giving him an almost divine appearance.

"…Since when?" Kato's question made Soichi flinch and turn around.

"How long have you been awake?" Kato asked.

"Not long," Soichi replied, with a small cough, his voice hoarse. Kato remembered how he had made him moan incessantly. The morning air was still chilly, and Soichi looked cold in just a loosely draped yukata.

"The car won't arrive until after ten, so you should rest a bit more. Just pack what you need, and I'll have the others bring the rest."

Soichi looked at him but said nothing. His yukata was carelessly open, revealing his ample, unusually white chest. When he noticed Kato's gaze, he pulled the yukata closed to cover himself.

The sight of this gesture rekindled Kato's lust. He grabbed Soichi's slender ankle and tried to pull him back into the futon, but Soichi resisted, scooting back with his butt.

"…It's not night anymore." That was his reason. Their agreement from the previous night—to be treated as a woman for one night. With morning come, Soichi must have felt he couldn’t stay in the same bed.

Kato grabbed his other leg, spreading them wide. This exposed Soichi's penis and scrotum, making the act of covering his chest while leaving his groin exposed both pitiful and comical.

"Show me your breasts," Kato demanded.

Soichi's hands didn't move from his yukata.

"Hurry up."

Soichi lowered his head and opened the yukata, his artificial breasts trembling slightly.

Kato reached out and pinched the tip of Soichi's right breast. The pale pink turned a lewd red with just a little pressure, as if inviting a man.

A warm droplet fell on Kato's fingers. Tears from Soichi's narrow eyes wet Kato's hand as he pinched the nipple.

"I'll have it removed… I promise. You sucked on it, so it's fine now," Soichi said.

Kato stared at the artificial breasts. He had always known why Soichi had transformed his body so grotesquely but pretended not to notice. Knowing the reason wouldn't change anything.

This person was incredibly foolish, Kato thought.

Soichi kept his head down. Kato dug his nails into the nipple. Soichi flinched and looked up, wet eyes filled with fear.

"Do you love me so much that you want to be embraced as a woman?"

Soichi took a deep breath, then covered his face with both hands, unable to hold back his tears any longer.

◇:*:◆:*:◇

The cherry blossoms at the mansion were almost gone, with the wind lifting the pale pink petals into the air.

On a slightly chilly night, around twenty senior members of the Motohashi group had gathered in the detached house for the monthly meeting.

"I can't take it anymore!" Yamahira stood up, his fists clenched.

"Those Zantou group’s bastards were messing with our young guys again yesterday."

Kato had heard about Yamahira's protégé getting his arm broken by a Zantou group thug last week and had already informed Soichi.

At the back of the room, Soichi, dressed in a dark navy suit that was almost black, rested his cheek on his hand, listening intently to Yamahira's outburst.

"They're taking advantage of our quietness, acting all high and mighty!"

Since the retirement and succession of the Abiko group’s boss, their influence had waned, allowing the Zantou group to expand. The Zantou group, another faction of the Fifth Generation Touzen group, was encroaching on the Abiko group's territory and slowly extending its reach into Motohashi group’s turf.

"Yamahira," Soichi finally spoke.

"Calm down… your blood pressure will rise."

The other executives chuckled, and Yamahira, face still red, dropped back into his seat.

"Kato, what time is it?"

Soichi asked without looking at him.

"It's half-past ten," Kato replied.

Soichi slowly scanned the faces of the executives.

"We've received information that the Zantou group will be exchanging guns with foreigners tonight. Fearing detection, there won't be any members at the scene… Yamahira, I had the Zantou group thug who hurt your protégé beaten and thrown at the scene, and called the police."

With a Zantou group thug at the scene, no matter his condition, the police would use it as an excuse to investigate thoroughly. The Zantou group would be too busy dealing with the fallout to harass the Motohashi group for a while.

The deal had been set for ten o'clock, so the raid was likely wrapping up around now.

As some executives admired Soichi’s smart method of revenge and cutting off their weapon supply, veteran Katagiri voiced a concern.

"But boss, this is just buying us time. We need to crack down on them hard."

Soichi tilted his head slightly.

"A swift takedown would require significant effort. It's more efficient to cut off their weapons and funding, then strike when they're weakened. Report every incident they cause. We'll decide which pests to eliminate individually."

His voice, though not loud, reverberated through the room, bringing a hush over the meeting. With that, the meeting ended. When Soichi left, the tense atmosphere eased slightly.

"Kato," Yamahira called as Kato was about to leave.

"He's really stepped up. Hard to believe he's only been the boss for five months."

"I agree, he's gaining authority."

"No more calling him 'the boy.'... He's a proper boss now. His father must be proud from beyond the grave."

Where the previous boss had been unpopular, his son fit comfortably into the new role. Soichi produced vast amounts of money, ruling the group with reason and strength. He had become the ideal leader the group and Kato had hoped for.

After seeing all the executives off, Kato was the last to leave the house. Upon becoming the boss, Soichi had returned to live at his family home.

"…It's Kato," he called from outside Soichi’s room.

"Come in," Soichi permitted, so Kato entered. Soichi wasn’t in the living area, so Kato peeked into the bedroom, where Soichi was changing clothes.

"Perfect timing… help me," Soichi said.

Locking the door, Kato approached Soichi, who was carefully unwrapping the cloth around his chest, signaling that he wouldn't be leaving his room again tonight.

"Did Yamahira say anything?" Soichi asked, his back still turned.

"Nothing in particular. Oh, he did say he's happy to see how much you've grown."

Soichi's rounded breasts emerged from beneath the fabric, red marks left on his pale skin from the tight cloth. He took Kato's hands and pressed them firmly against his breasts. Kato gently squeezed the soft mounds as Soichi sighed with pleasure, his eyes moist.

Soichi kissed Kato's hands before kneeling and undoing the front of Kato’s slacks, taking out his penis. He sniffed it, pressed his cheek against it, and then took it into his mouth as if it were the most natural thing in the world. A shiver of pleasure ran down Kato's spine.

There is no such thing as a perfect human being. And what defines perfection is merely how others perceive a person. The Soichi here and the Soichi who runs the organization are the same person. The only difference is that this is not easily understood by others.

Even after returning to Tokyo from the inn in Kobe, Soichi didn't undergo the chest surgery. Kato could have forced it, but he didn’t. He had set only one condition: never show this to anyone but him.

As Soichi continued to move his hips and removed his slacks and underwear, his penis was half-erect against a hairless pubic area. Kato lightly stepped on it. The rhythmic movement of his foot made Soichi lose focus on what he was doing with his mouth. Kato pulled out of his mouth, picked up the lewd man, and laid him on the bed.

"What do you want?" Kato asked, though he already knew. Soichi, who had started giving him a blowjob on his own, averted his eyes and showed an ashamed demeanor. Kato couldn't explain the contradictory urge to slap and kiss him.

"Do you want to be skewered by my thick cock and feel pleasure from me thrusting into you?" Kato asked.

Soichi's face turned red as his erection stained Kato's shirt with precum. The act of two men fondling each other—whether it was love or not—was unclear. Kato might never know. But touching Soichi made him erect, and he derived pleasure from it. He understood that this lewd and shameful man had a ridiculous amount of love for him.

Sometimes Kato wondered if he was being dragged along by Soichi’s emotions. Perhaps he was. There were moments of genuine arousal, but the contradictions always lingered.

Would he ever know the right answer? Kato grabbed Soichi's hair.

"You have no modesty and are a shameless bitch. You're a different person from the one at the meeting earlier."

Soichi looked at him with sad eyes, pressing his fingertips to his lips as he insulted him with rough words.

"Give me a kiss as a reward for all my hard work."

He pressed his lips against Soichi's. Between the fierce kisses, Soichi mumbled Kato's name and clung to him.

Footnotes

0. Content warning: NSFW, r*pe mention, queerphobia.

Previous TOC Next