**Chapter 10: The Weight of Secrets**

The weight of his secrets threatened to crush him as Mitsuba lay there, staring at Kou's peaceful face. It had been a moment of clarity, a moment of truth, when he realized his feelings for Kou. But as the reality of his emotions sunk in, another thought crept in, one that filled him with dread. Boys can't love boys. The societal norms, the expectations, the potential consequences – it all came flooding back, and Mitsuba felt like he was drowning. He thought about Kou's family, about their strict religious beliefs, and his heart sank. If Kou's family found out, it would be a disaster. They would be devastated, and Kou's life would be ruined. Mitsuba couldn't bear the thought of being the one responsible for that. He had to run, he had to get away, before he destroyed Kou's life. The thought filled Mitsuba with a deep sense of shame. He was ashamed of himself, ashamed of his feelings, and ashamed of the potential impact they could have on Kou's life. But as he lay there, he wasn't scared of how his feelings would impact his own life. He didn't care about himself; he only cared about Kou. Mitsuba slowly sat up, trying not to disturb Kou. He looked around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings, but feeling like a stranger in his own skin. He knew he had to leave, but he couldn't bring himself to move. He didn't want to leave Kou's side, not yet. Kou stirred beside him, and Mitsuba quickly looked away, trying to compose himself. "Hey, good morning," Kou said, his voice husky from sleep. Mitsuba forced a smile, trying to play it cool. "Good morning," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. The two of them lay there for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Mitsuba knew he had to get out of there, but he couldn't bring himself to move. He was trapped, caught between his feelings for Kou and his fear of the consequences. As Kou sat up, Mitsuba knew he had to make a decision. He could stay, and risk ruining Kou's life, or he could leave, and protect Kou from the potential fallout. The thought of leaving Kou was almost too much to bear, but Mitsuba knew it was the right thing to do. He couldn't let his feelings destroy Kou's life. He had to be strong, for Kou's sake. With a heavy heart, Mitsuba slowly got out of bed, trying not to draw attention to himself. He knew he had to leave, and he knew he had to do it now, before it was too late.