Shattered Resolve

Mitsuba burst out of the door, not looking back as he left Kou's confused expression behind him. He couldn't bear to face Kou's questions, not yet, maybe not ever. The weight of his secrets and the crushing reality of his feelings had become too much to handle. He needed space, and he needed it now. The days that followed were a blur of darkness and despair. Mitsuba went through the motions, but his heart wasn't in it. He was depressed, consumed by the thought of what could have been, what should have been. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a huge mistake by leaving Kou's side. As the days turned into a week, Mitsuba's emotions had reached a boiling point. He couldn't take it anymore, the loneliness, the emptiness, the ache in his chest. He had to see Kou, had to talk to him, had to be near him. In the middle of the night, around 2 am, Mitsuba found himself standing in front of Kou's house. The streets were empty, the only sound being the distant hum of crickets. He approached the door, his heart pounding in his chest, and turned the handle. The door creaked open, and Mitsuba's heart skipped a beat. The fact that the door was unlocked meant that Kou was waiting for him, or at least, expecting him. Mitsuba's feet seemed to move of their own accord, carrying him up the stairs to Kou's room. The door was slightly ajar, and Mitsuba could see that the lights were turned off, casting the room in darkness. Kou was asleep, and Mitsuba's heart swelled with emotion as he slipped inside. The room was quiet, the only sound being Kou's gentle breathing. Mitsuba stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of Kou's peaceful face. He felt a pang of guilt for disturbing him, but he couldn't help himself. He needed to be close to Kou, to talk to him, to be with him. As he approached the bed, Kou stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Mitsuba?" he whispered, his voice husky from sleep. Mitsuba sat down beside him, taking his hand in his. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was a coward." Kou looked at him, his eyes searching for answers. "What happened?" he asked, his voice soft. Mitsuba shook his head, not knowing where to begin. "I just needed some time," he said, his voice cracking. Kou nodded, his expression understanding. "You took it," he said. "Now you're back. What do you want to do?" Mitsuba looked at him, a spark of hope igniting within him. "I want to go to the beach," he said, his voice filled with longing. "The one down the street. Can we go?" Kou looked at him, a small smile playing on his lips. "We can go," he said. "But it's 3 am. Are you sure you want to go now?" Mitsuba nodded, his heart racing with excitement. "I need to go," he said. "I need to be with you, and I need to be by the sea."