"A Confession of Envy"

The silence between Kou and Mitsuba had grown thick, and Kou was starting to get worried that he might have to pry the words out of Mitsuba himself. But then, without warning, Mitsuba spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper. "You can't judge," he said, his eyes fixed on some invisible point on the floor. Kou nodded, his expression soft and understanding. "I won't," he promised, and Mitsuba seemed to relax a fraction, as if the assurance had given him permission to continue. Mitsuba took a deep breath, and his words tumbled out in a rush. "It's... so... well, like... how do I put this…" He trailed off, his face growing even redder with embarrassment. Kou's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned in, his elbows still propping him up on the bed. "Go on," he encouraged, his voice gentle. Mitsuba groaned, frustration etched on his face. "All my friends talk about is losing their virginities... and I'm quite jealous to the point it makes me mad... but the thing is, I don't even want to have sex with anyone." He looked up at Kou, his eyes searching for understanding. Kou's expression remained neutral, but inside, he was surprised. He hadn't expected Mitsuba to reveal something so personal, and he couldn't help but wonder why Mitsuba felt the need to share this with him now. Mitsuba continued, his voice laced with self-loathing. "I'm just more so jealous I have nothing to brag about to them." He shook his head, his eyes dropping back to the floor. "It's stupid, I know. But hearing them talk about their experiences, it's like they're all moving forward, and I'm just stuck in the same place." Kou's gaze lingered on Mitsuba, and he could see the insecurity written all over his face. He realized that Mitsuba wasn't just jealous of his friends' experiences; he was also struggling with his own sense of inadequacy. Kou's heart went out to his friend, and he reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Mitsuba's shoulder. "It's not stupid, Mitsuba," Kou said softly. "It's natural to feel left out when everyone around you seems to be moving forward." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "But that doesn't mean you have to measure yourself against others. You're more than just your experiences, Mitsuba. You're an amazing person, and your worth isn't defined by something like this." Mitsuba looked up, his eyes searching for sincerity, and Kou smiled, his eyes locked on his friend's. "I'm here for you, Mitsuba. And I'm not going anywhere."