“Mizurou’s engaged. Our squad is happy,” Keijin says calmly.
He and Kiyoko Aura meet up every month or so, for coffee, some of Yoriko’s delicious goodies, and discussing their now very-different lives.
Kiyoko eyes her former squad member. “Your squad, but not you?”
“I’m happy for him,” Keijin insists.
“But sad for yourself.” Kiyoko sips her coffee.
Keijin chokes. He turns bright red. “Uh – you – what are you -”
“Keijin, I know,” Kiyoko says. “I am gay myself.”
“Huh?” Keijin drops his melon pan. His mentor, the one he looks up to – has the same issue as him? “Oh.”
“It’s okay, you know. The sooner you accept yourself, the better.” Kiyoko sighs, staring at her coffee. “It’s funny. Even with all of CCG’s sins, the one regret I keep with me is not telling my best friend I was in love with her.”
“I knew it could never happen,” says Keijin.
“Why? You’ll never know who’s queer until everyone’s open about it.” Kiyoko raises an eyebrow. “And if you want everyone to be open, you have to be open yourself.”
“Says someone who didn’t tell me until now!” Keijin squeaks.
“Point taken. But you’re young still.” Kiyoko points at Keijin. “Don’t ignore the next opportunity.”
Keijin swallows the lump in his throat. The next. Because he will never have Mizurou now. He will never risk their friendship now that Mizurou is engaged, a and Kiyoko knows that.
“I won’t,” he vows, to himself as much as Mizurou.