Chapter 17 – Taking Responsibility
Chapter 3, Part 1
Novel Title: 融愛~Melt Down~ (Melted Love ~Melt Down~)
Author：風結子 沙野 (Fuyuko Sano)
Illustrator：雅良 水名瀬 (Masara Minase)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 葉越海理 (Yougoshi Kairi -MC), 葉越翼久 (Yougoshi Tasuku -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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A soft light spread out from the lantern-style lamp hanging on the wall, filtered through the washi paper.
This was an izakaya that he occasionally visited with Naofumi after work. The partitions created private rooms. The volume of the soothing music was just enough that conversations from the neighbouring rooms couldn’t be heard, making it a place where work-related discussions could be held without worry.
It was also the perfect place to talk about private matters, the kind you didn’t want others to overhear, like today.
After some light dishes and drinks were brought to the table, Naofumi apologised with a serious expression.
“About yesterday, I’m really sorry. I did that without even confirming how Yougoshi felt.”
Kairi began to think that to begin with, the fault lay with him. It was him who acted suggestively in an attempt to erase the kiss his brother gave him. He tried to take advantage of Naofumi’s affection for him.
Kairi slowly shook his head.
“…No. I’m the one who should apologise for making you uncomfortable, Tokiya-san.”
“And your brother, is he okay after what happened?”
The indecent events of last night were something he could never, ever tell Naofumi, or anyone for that matter.
―—What happened between brothers…
The world felt violently out of place, as though it had become something entirely different from what it had been until yesterday. It was so surreal, he could almost believe it had all been a dream he’d conjured up.
But the dull ache that continued to torment his lower body was proof that the horrifying act had been real.
His body had been violated by his brother’s. He had been filled with his brother’s semen three times…
“My brother’s a host, so he’s used to a lot of things. Don’t worry about it.”
Hiding his true feelings, he responded in a light tone, which seemed to put Naofumi at ease as he brought the cold sake to his lips. Naofumi sighed softly as he loosened his tie, resting both elbows on the table. He then looked at Kairi with his head slightly lowered.
Even in such casual gestures and glances, Naofumi exuded a masculine charm. No wonder he was so popular with the female staff.
“I’m ready to take full responsibility.”
“Responsibility?”
“We can’t get married since we’re both men. But if Yougoshi is willing to be with me, I won’t let things end vaguely. There’s always the option of legal adoption in the end—”
“Wait, please!”
Kairi was startled and interrupted Naofumi’s words.
“Why are you suddenly bringing this up?”
“I’ve always been bisexual, so I’ve had time to process my feelings. But Yougoshi is straight. Since I’m dragging you into a relationship that can’t end in a typical marriage, I feel I should show my sincerity.”
Naofumi’s serious expression made it clear he wasn’t just saying this.
“I’m serious about this, Yougoshi.”
“…Why?”
Unable to understand, Kairi asked the question that had been bothering him for a while.
“What do you even like about me, Tokiya-san?”
“What do I like… Let’s see. At first, I thought your appearance was quite my type. After we started working together and you became my mentee, I grew fond of how seriously you took everything. The deciding factor was probably when we talked about why you chose a job in the food industry.”
“What did I say…?”
“Don’t you remember?”
When Kairi shook his head, Naofumi smiled nostalgically.
“It was here at this same place. While we were drinking, I asked why you joined a food manufacturer even though the pay wasn’t particularly good. And you said, ‘Because handling food makes me feel like I’m alive.’”
“Like I’m alive…”
“I’ve always had the arrogant mindset that I was ‘living on my own terms,’ so hearing that was a bit of a shock to me. You could say I was intrigued by your worldview, the reverence, the stoicism. As I watched you, I realised I’d fallen for you.”
“My worldview isn’t that impressive. I think I just appreciate food more than most people because I had trouble getting enough to eat as a child due to family issues.”
“Those experiences made you who you are today. And that’s the person I’m attracted to.”
Naofumi’s words were casual. But the depth of his feelings and his attempt to accept Kairi as he was came through clearly. It brought a sense of calm to Kairi’s troubled heart.
Feeling a sense of his own deceitfulness, Kairi ended up returning home without properly answering Naofumi’s feelings once again today.
With his head bowed and heavy footsteps, Kairi finally lifted his face when he reached the front of his apartment building.
He looked up at the fifth floor and blinked his eyes.
Since he had spent 30 minutes with Naofumi at an izakaya after overtime, it was already past midnight. Normally at this time, Tasuku would be in the midst of work. But the window of the apartment was lit up… and there was the figure of a young man leaning on the balcony fence.
He had probably been watching Kairi walk home the whole time.
Even when they were children, if Kairi came home late, Tasuku would lean on the rusty railing at the window of their run-down apartment and wait for him.
The figure of the 23-year-old, slightly effeminate young man waving at him now overlapped with the adorable image of the elementary school student back then.
With a pale, troubled expression, Kairi passed through the entrance and got on the elevator.
Considering what had happened the previous night, he had agonised all day over whether he should even go home. But he chose to return home out of a sense of guilt and obligation towards his brother.
His brother had sacrificed both his body and heart to devote himself to Kairi.
And Kairi had been oblivious to this, acting like the older brother who thought he was protecting his younger sibling. How pitiful. It was an anguish he could never fully atone for.
That’s why he couldn’t run away. He had to have a proper talk with Tasuku. And they had to bury what happened last night and return to being brothers. Kairi thought that if he maintained a firm attitude, Tasuku would understand. But he was about to realise how naive that belief was the moment he opened the front door and said “I’m home.”
A hand forcefully thrust out from the gap in the door, grabbing Kairi’s arm and roughly pulling him inside. He was pushed against Tasuku’s chest, his chin grasped and head tilted back. His lips were engulfed in a hot, plump sensation.
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*Translator’s Note: Attracted or not, Tokiya-san, you’re out of luck. You’re nice and all but… meh. -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Onii-san / Onii-chan / Nii-san / Nii-chan / Aniki = (Big/Elder) Brother
☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation.
☝🏻Washi paper lantern
Next update: 2025.01.12
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