Taste Of Love - MatchaBlossom

15)

The next day arrived, the air tinged with bittersweet feelings as Kaoru gathered his belongings and stepped outside his room. As he turned the corner, he was met with Kojiro, their eyes briefly locking in an awkward exchange of greetings.

"Hey," Kojiro muttered, his voice tinged with a hint of regret."Hi," Kaoru replied, his voice mirroring Kojiro's mixed emotions.

Kojiro broke the silence, asking if Kaoru was ready to go. Kaoru nodded the weight of impending separation settling upon his shoulders. They made their way downstairs, Kaoru bidding farewell to Kojiro's family with a tinge of sadness.

Outside, Kojiro stood by the car as Kaoru entered the Uber. Through the open window, Kaoru looked at Kojiro, his eyes filled with a glimmer of hope. "Come visit me, okay?" he said softly. Kojiro nodded, a mix of longing and uncertainty in his gaze. "Bye, Kaoru," he replied, his voice laced with unspoken emotions.

"Bye, Kojiro," Kaoru whispered, his heart heavy with a sense of longing as the car began to drive away. He watched Kojiro fade into the distance, a gnawing feeling of emptiness settling within him.

As the car journeyed on toward the airport, Kaoru couldn't shake the heavy, unfamiliar sensation weighing on his heart. It was as if something was missing, something he couldn't quite grasp. His time in Italy was amazing, just how he had imagined it. Seeing all the architecture, eating the different types of food, being with Kojiro....

He wanted to stay for longer, but he knew he couldn't. He has a life back in Japan, a job and family, he needs to go home but something is pulling him back like a magnet.

Then... it hit him—the realization that he wasn't ready to let go on this feeling, he wasn't really to let go of Kojiro go once again.

Without a second thought, Kaoru instructed the driver to turn the car around, despite the potential delay it would cause for his flight. The driver hesitated but complied, understanding the urgency in Kaoru's voice.

Back at the house, Kaoru knocked on the door, the familiar face of a servant greeting him. With a determined stride, Kaoru entered, calling out for Kojiro. To his surprise, Kojiro's mother appeared, curiosity evident in her eyes.

"Where is Kojiro?" Kaoru inquired, his voice betraying a sense of urgency."He's gone to the restaurant" Kojiro's mother replied, her tone laced with confusion.

Expressing his gratitude to his aunt, Kaoru swiftly returned to the car, instructing the driver to head to Kojiro's workplace. Frustration and worry crept into his mind as he tried to call Kojiro, only to be met with a phone that wouldn't connect.

The car eventually came to a stop, and the driver pointed out the window, drawing Kaoru's attention to a figure alone in a skate park. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the green haired man sitting on his skateboard, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

With a surge of adrenaline, Kaoru burst out of the car, calling out for Kojiro. Kojiro turned, confusion etched on his face "Why are you still here?"

"I couldn't leave yet," Kaoru explained, his voice soft but you could hear how out of breath he was. "Not without saying what I want to say."

A mixture of surprise flickered in Kojiro's eyes as he listened to Kaoru's heartfelt confession. Kaoru spoke of the way his heart always skipped a beat whenever he was with Kojiro. The way it skipped when he thought about him, talked to him, skated with him. He had to do it. "I can't wait another ten years to see you again, Kojiro," he whispered, his voice filled with vulnerability.

"I like you kojiro, I like you so much that it feels like my heart is being ripped out when I'm not with you" he exhaled sharply "I really love you"

Kojiro laughed a gentle sound that rippled through the air. Kaoru's confusion was evident, "Why are you laughing?" 

Kojiro reached out, his hand cupping Kaoru's cheek. "It's nothing," he said softly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It's just... the way your hair was all tied up before, and now it's all loose."

Before Kaoru could respond, Kojiro pulled him into a kiss, their lips meeting. Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise, his heart fluttering as he kissed the boy back, their connection deepening.

Breaking apart, Kojiro looked into Kaoru's eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you too, Kaoru," he confessed. "I've loved you since we were teenagers running away at night to skate around in abandoned buildings."

"Why did you leave without saying anything?" Kaoru asked, longing and pain in his voice as he held onto latter

Kojiro's grip tightened, his voice filled with remorse. "I knew I wouldn't return for a while, and I didn't want to leave you waiting for me," he explained, his eyes filled with regret.

"Well, you did," Kaoru said, his embrace conveying the depth of his yearning. "I missed you every day since you left for Italy."

In that moment, they stood in an embrace, finding solace in each other's arms amidst the storm of emotions that built up within the two.

"I have to go catch my flight," Kaoru finally said, reluctantly releasing his hold on Kojiro. The green haired boy, held onto Kaoru's hand, his gaze pleading. "Wait for me, Kaoru. Please, wait for me for at least a year, and I will return to you," he implored, his voice filled with determination.

Kaoru offered a small smile, his eyes shining with unwavering devotion. "I'll wait for you forever, Kojiro," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of his promise.

As Kaoru made his way back to the car, their connection still palpable, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope, knowing that their love would endure, even across time and distance.

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