Shattered Bonds-Okuyasu & Josuke

Bumps-Part 6

A week later...

The sun shone through the small gap in the curtain into Okuyasu's eyes. Dazed, he stirred awake and quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Josuke. He headed to the kitchen, where Tomoko was already preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, sleepy head," she greeted him with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?"

Okuyasu forced a smile. "Morning, Miss Tomoko. Yeah, I slept okay. Thanks."

She placed a plate of pancakes in front of him yet again. "I made your favourite."

He sat down, picking at his food. Despite Tomoko 's constant kindness and care, he still couldn't shake the feeling of being an imposition. He didn't want to disrupt their lives any more than he already had. He replied with a forced smile.

Moments later, Josuke joined them in the kitchen, he immediately sensed Okuyasu's unease. "Everything okay?" he asked, sitting down beside him.

Okuyasu nodded, though his expression said otherwise. "Yeah, I'm fine."

After breakfast, they headed back to the room to get ready for the day. Josuke's room was now a mix of both their belongings, a visual representation of their intertwined lives. But the once comforting sight now felt suffocating to Okuyasu.

Josuke noticed that Okuyasu was still wearing that depressing look on his face, which forced him to ask again, "Is something bothering you babe?", his tone gentle but concerned.

Okuyasu let out a frustrated sigh, whilst running a hand through his hair. "It's just... I feel like I'm intruding. Your parents have been so kind, but I don't want to be a burden."

Josuke's face softened with understanding. "Baby, you're not a burden. My parents and I want you here."

Okuyasu looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "But for how long? What if they start to get tired of me? What if you get tired of me?"

Josuke's patience started to wane. This wasn't the first time they have had this conversation. "Listen. Honey. I've told you a hundred times, you're not intruding. Why can't you believe that?"

"It's not that easy," Okuyasu snapped, his frustration bubbling over. "You don't know what it's like to feel so out of place, to feel like you're imposing on everyone around you."

Josuke's expression hardened, his own irritation surfacing. "And you don't know what it's like to see someone you love beating themselves up constantly. I'm trying to help you, but you keep pushing me away!"

Okuyasu's eyes flashed with anger. "Maybe I'm pushing you away because I don't want to drag you down with me. Maybe I'm trying to protect you?!"

"Protect me?" Josuke scoffed, his voice rising. "By shutting me out? By making me feel like me or my family's support doesn't matter?"