Polaroids on The Floor

Back to Kobe

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the road, Kim glanced over at Fuuto. “It’s getting dark. How about we head to my place? You can stay the night, and tomorrow we’ll deal with submitting the pictures.”

Fuuto nodded in agreement, and soon enough, they were cruising through the quieter streets of Kim’s neighborhood. The familiarity of the surroundings brought a sense of comfort to Kim, and he felt a small wave of relief wash over him as they pulled up in front of his house.

Kim stepped out of the car and opened the door, calling out, “Lia, Mom, I’m home!”

Almost immediately, he heard footsteps approaching. His younger sister, Lia, ran up and threw her arms around him. “Kimmy! You’re finally back! We missed you so much.”

Kim chuckled, returning the hug. “I missed you too, Lia.” As she released him, her eyes drifted to Fuuto, who was standing a bit awkwardly in the doorway.

Lia smiled and waved at him. “Hi there! Who’s this?”

“He’s a friend of mine, and he’ll be staying here for the night,” Kim replied, giving Fuuto a reassuring nod.

Just then, their mother appeared in the hallway, her eyes lighting up as she saw Kim. “Oh, Kino, you’re home! I’ve been waiting for you!” She pulled him into a tight embrace, but when she stepped back, her gaze was distant, as though she wasn’t quite seeing him.

Kim’s heart ached as he realized she wasn’t fully aware of who he was in that moment. “Mom, it’s me. I’m here.”

But his mother only smiled softly, tilting her head. “You must be one of Kimiyaki’s friends. He works so hard… I wish he wouldn’t tire himself out so much.”

Kim swallowed hard, keeping his voice steady. “Yeah, he works a lot. But he’s here now.”

His mother’s attention shifted to Fuuto, her expression brightening. “And who is this handsome young man? Are you one of Kimmy’s friends too?”

Fuuto stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “Good evening, ma’am. My name is Enami Fuuto. Kim has told me a lot about you.”

“Oh, really? You know, a guy like you is just Kimmy’s type. Maybe you should ask him out sometime so he’s not always alone,” she added with a playful wink.

Kim felt his cheeks heat up, and he shot Fuuto a warning glance, but Fuuto simply smirked, clearly amused. “Is that so?” Fuuto replied, glancing at Kim with a teasing smile.

“Lia, have you and Mom eaten yet?” Kim asked, quickly changing the subject.

Lia nodded. “Yeah, we had dinner earlier.”

“Good. Take Mom to her room so she can rest, and you should get some sleep too,” Kim said, gently guiding his mother toward her room.

After they were out of sight, Kim turned to Fuuto, who was still grinning. “Are you hungry? I can make us something to eat.”

“Starving, actually,” Fuuto admitted, rubbing his stomach. “All that driving really worked up an appetite.”

Kim rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen. The familiar routine of cooking helped calm his nerves, and soon, the aroma of a simple yet hearty meal filled the house. When he served the food, he couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious. “I’m no chef, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t taste great.”

Fuuto took a bite, his eyes widening in delight. “This is amazing, Kim. Seriously, it’s the best meal I’ve had in… well, maybe ever.”

Kim scoffed, though he couldn’t hide his smile. “You’re just being nice.”