After Ren and Sunou left, Aoi said「Please, leave me alone」and Yuito and Seita withdrew.
The proceeding day was unusual, his schedule had been cancelled, and he holed himself up in his room alone.
Ren eventually left for the main building for work after eating breakfast with Sunou. Then, Sunou told Yuito to relay a message of「I won't be able to meet you later today. But I'll come again.」and left after calling a car.
After that, Yuito wandered aimlessly in front of Aoi's room, helped the gardener with his work, and performed tasks for Seita… although he kept himself busy, he was nonetheless worried about Aoi. Normally, Yuito would be right next to Aoi. This may have been the first time they've been apart for so long.
And then came evening.
Worried about Aoi who didn't eat breakfast or lunch, Yuito finally knocked on Aoi's door.
「Aoi-sama. It's me. Would you like some dinner?」
Deep down he knew there would be no reply, so Yuito stuck his ear against the door and tried to listen for any sounds inside. But, a few seconds later, the door suddenly opened. Being unable to withdraw quick enough, Yuito fell on top of Aoi.
「Ah…!!」
「Hey… what were you doing?」
「S-sorry…!!」
「Seriously…」
Aoi sighed in exasperation and held Yuito securely in his arms. Close to Aoi's chest, wafted a gentle and sweet scent. At this time, the area where Aoi's hand touched became unusually hot, and Yuito pulled away quickly.
「I'm sorry… Um, you haven't eaten anything since this morning, right? Would you like to have dinner…?」
「…Ahh, that's right. But before that, would you mind coming for a walk?」
「Oh, yes! Of course!」
Yuito respectfully grabbed Aoi's outstretched hand. Just by feeling the gentle heat from Aoi's long fingers, his heart was a mess.
-This is weird…
Despite feeling uneasy about the state of his body, Yuito went out to the garden as Aoi wanted.
The two of them walked through the beautiful and spacious English garden.
Spring was here and the days were longer. The darkening sky burned a bright orange and long shadows extended from the trees. The shadows along with and the appearance of the flowers representing colours from the four seasons, was somewhat wistful.
The English garden was built to cherish the natural appearance of plants. When spring came, and the plants became livelier, and the evergreen tree planted in a section of the garden stood out a little more, one could see that the strength of this garden was that it always felt alive.
Various flowers bloomed in the garden of the Kunishiro family. Sometimes, they would import a variety not found in Japan, while in this garden, one might smell the fragrance of a foreign country.
While walking alongside Yuito on the cobblestone path, Aoi would enjoy the smell in the air.
When they passed through the ivy arches, there was a garden of roses on one side.
Although it wasn't the time for roses, they were still in full bloom. Yuito would occasionally help out in the garden, but he was not allowed to touch the roses. Because they were difficult to maintain, it was left to a gardener with expertise.
「…Is this the rose garden? It smells nice.」
「Ah, they're in full bloom. Bright red, white, slightly bluish… this rose garden is amazing to keep them blooming all year round.」
「Yes… my older brother made this garden because of my eyes. As roses have a strong smell, you can enjoy them even without seeing them.」
「Oh, is that so.」
「It was tough, they specially imported a variety of flowers that would bloom for a long time, bred them together, and planted this garden. I guess he is kind, perhaps.」
「Perhaps…?」
Aoi suddenly stopped, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When he slowly opened his eyes, Aoi's colourless eyes reflected the colour of the sky during the setting sun.
「My brother is right. I know he is. Besides, I want to be my brother's strength.」
「…Yes, I know.」
「But… somewhere in my heart, I thought about what it would be like to not see for the rest of my life. And I thought it would be alright.」
「Huh? Really?」
He was surprised that these words came from the normally stoic Aoi, Yuito looked up at Aoi's side profile next to him. Aoi faced downwards, turning towards Yuito.
「I've been spoiled because I can't see, I've been diverting my eyes from matters that I don't wish to see.」
「Is this… about your partner…?」
「Yes, well, that's one thing. But, if the date of the operation has been decided, I guess I should get used to it soon.」
「…Yes.」
Yuito's heart ached with each word from Aoi. It meant that Aoi would no longer need Yuito's services soon. Aoi would dashingly walk down the street alone, while he currently had a gentle hand on Yuito's shoulder, he wondered how many omegas he would hold in the future.
-Don't think about this sort of thing. It's weird that you're not happy about this! Isn't it enough that he can see again?
「Oh, Aoi-sama, once you can see again, what would you like to see first!?」
Yuito held back his sorrowful feelings and asked Aoi in a bright voice. Then Aoi blinked his eyes, and hummed as he looked towards the sky.
「How about this garden. Because of Yuito's poor explanations, I couldn't picture anything at all.」
「P-poor!? It's not that bad, you're terrible!」
「Haha, am I? Are you angry? In general, your vocabulary is limited. Study more.」
「Studying. Because I am busy taking care of Aoi-sama, I don't have time for that sort of thing.」
「…Haha, that's right. Once I can see again, Yuito will be able to return to school. In that case, should I also start again from scratch? 」
「Huh…」
Aoi's lips curved into a smile, he slowly raised his hand to the height of Yuito's face. His finger wandered around as if searching for something, then he touched Yuito's nose. Aoi stretched out his hand, and stroked Yuito's head.
It was the first time he touched his head. Overwhelmed by surprise and joy, Yuito's heart beat violently. His body heated up and his eyes became wet and hazy.
「I'm being serious. You're still young, but you're being made to take care of me.」
「Th… that's not right!! I… being with Aoi-sama, every day has been very, very enjoyable!! I'm alright without school! I… I've always… always…!!」
「Always… what?」
「I… nn… I hate it… Aoi-sama will no longer need me… I don't… nn… ts…」
「…Yuito? Are you crying?」
「I-I'm not…nh…ke…」
「Really.」
Aoi withdrew the hand that was stroking Yuito's head and pressed Yuito's face into his shoulder. He hugged him gently, bringing them closer together. It was the first time he came into contact with so much of Aoi's body.
The scenery of the garden under a veil of darkness, the smell of his clothes, the scent of roses, his warm touch, the sound of someone else's heart beating… it jolted Yuito's senses violently, stimulating something that had been lying dormant in him.
His heartbeat that had been erratic since earlier beat even faster, the mild heat that traveled through his flesh increased in intensity.
It was a familiar feeling.
From the first day he had experienced it, he was afraid and forcibly suppressed it with medicine. But, there was no way he could forget the sexual urges he felt at that time.
-This is bad, this… nh…!
It was an emergency, Yuito roughly pushed Aoi away. He was staggering but Aoi was one step behind him, feeling that Yuito was being rather unusual, he called out.
「Yuito? What's wrong?」
「A… ng, please don't touch me…!!」
「Yuito…!? Wait, I'll call Seita.」
「Don't!! Don't call anyone!!」
In a haze, he tried to grab Aoi's smartphone that he took out of his black trousers. But, Yuito was struck by an intense dizziness, and he shook as he braced himself on the ground.
「…Haaa… Haa… nn… medicine… medicine…」
He searched his pockets, but his hands wouldn't stay steady.
-I spilled it!? But, that's the backup I always keep on hand. I just need to take it, and it'll be okay… Aoi-sama might be suspicious, but because he can't see me, I might be able to pull this off…
「Yuito… you-」
「I-I'm sorry… I'm a little hot from this morning, a bit feverish… soon, soon… I'll calm down…」
「I knew it, you're an omega.」
「…Huh…?」
The hand that was trying to grab the tablets scattered on the ground was stopped.
Yuito could not raise his face and could only stare at Aoi's shoes.
The black leather sneakers suited nicely on Aoi's long legs, he thought he looked incredible. But at such a time, he wondered why he thought about these trivial things.
At this time, Aoi knelt down.
Aoi put his hand on Yuito's back, who was bent over on all fours.
「…Seita. Come to the rose garden quickly. Yuito is unsteady with a fever. Please, come alone, that is all.」
「A… Aoi-sama…」
Aoi ended the call and had on a pained expression. His pale cheeks were faintly flushed, it was unlikely to be from the sunset that finished dyeing the sky.
「…For a long time now, I've been thinking this might have been the case.」
「Hn… li-liar…」
「…Your scent, it always…」
Aoi who was saying something, furrowed his eyebrows and shut his mouth. The hand on Yuito's back trembled slightly, then clenched tightly onto Yuito's shirt.
「…This scent… I…」
「Aoi-sama…?」
The pheromones of an omega in heat, would greatly affect an unmated alpha.
It was like an aphrodisiac, but more powerful than any of them.
-What do I do, I… I'm affecting Aoi-sama… this is something that can't happen…!!
Aoi pressed down on his chest, and a rough sigh escaped from his lips. Even if his eyes didn't reflect light, one could clearly see the arousal in them.
「Aoi-sama, are you here!?」
Seita had finally arrived. Yuito was lifted up by Seita, and through his hazy consciousness that was fluttering in and out from the fever, he heard Aoi's firm orders to Seita.
「Bring Yuito to my room. Do not allow anyone near unless I allow it. Absolutely not.」