Fragments of Desire | Jo Togame

CHAPTER NINE

"Don't you think Togame is going a little too far with the plan?" SMOKE BLEW out of Yukinari's lips as he gestured the cigarette away from his mouth before hissing a breath through his lips.

Kanuma stared back at the man waiting for a response with thin eyes whilst holding a drink in his hand.

The two rested their backs against an old brick wall covered in graffiti.

"Nah, to be honest I couldn't care less what the guy is doing." He replied back in honesty.

Kanuma's eyes shifted the the cig that sat between his fingers. "And I thought you were gonna quit smoking."

I large gap of silence filled the teenage boys before the blonde-haired one discarded the cigarette that was once in his hands now onto the floor and then stomping his foot on the burner to take out the flame.

"It was my last pack. My sister busted my ass when she found them in my room."

"I figured I might as well finish it. I probably won't be touching them for a while after her lecture..."

The other boy hummed not really phased by the conflict set his friend was in. He probably felt that it was deserved—him and Togame had jumped him when they found out he was a smoker. Since then, he kept it a secret from the two of his friends till Kanuma had caught him on a random day relapsing. He pleaded his best friend not to tell Togame and Chouji, to this, even though the black-haired boy knew it was wrong, he agreed to keep it a secret as long as he only smoked once a week rather than four.

"Either way, why're you even keeping tabs on Togame and [Name]?" He questioned now leaning back onto the brick wall as the two waited for the usual train to pass by on top where the tunnel stood.

"I'm not exactly. I sometimes text the girl to see if she knows where Togame is since he's rarely with us now. And every single time, she says he's with her." He paused,

"Don't you think it's kind of odd? Especially for Togame."

Yukinari stared off into the distance. It was true what the other boy was saying. Ever since the 6ft tall man laid his eyes on you, the three of them including Chouji could tell something was brewing inside the ebony-haired man. And it's rare for Chouji to become suspicious of his best friend.

"Probably has to do with his ex."

"..."

"...That would be terrible on [Name] if that's true." The black-haired man's face shifted to displeasure.

"What makes you say that?"

The two finally exchanged glances after speaking about the topic for not even 5 minutes. But it was clear that both of them could already guess what the outcomes could be if Togame continues his visits with you.

"That just means she's never going to leave him." Yukinari got up from the wall and pulled out his lighter. Kanuma watched the man precisely as the boy walked further and threw away the flint.

At the same time, the train above them had passed by.

"Whether she likes it, or not."

—

It had been a week since you went out with Togame to get the items needed for your stall when the festival was going to happen. Your parents were eccentric when they found out their daughter was not only working full-time at one of the stands but was also working along a new person they had never met.