SPGM Ch 20

“Gasp, ah…!”

As he keenly felt the pressure filling his insides, Weather let out a sharp breath. The sound that poured directly into his ears was dizzying. Zeeeuk, the penis that had been buried deep inside pulled out. To ensure the sensation on his inner walls was felt clearly, the penis revealed itself very slowly and deliberately.

Pulling out brought a slightly different pleasure from filling up. At the same time, it also made him anticipate the moment it would push in again. But unlike the first time when they had been perfectly interlocked, the penis did not delve all the way to the end, but only went in halfway before slowly pulling out.

Was it because he now knew the volume of being completely full? The movement that seemed like it would fill him but didn’t was agonizing. Weather, gripping the shoulder blades in his hands, scraped them hard and grabbed Jester’s hips. He tightened his grip, wanting the penis parting his inner walls to bury itself deeper, to prevent it from escaping his insides.

Plunge, the sound of it parting his inner walls echoed loudly.

“Ah!”

“Haeu…!”

The penis, which had suddenly been thrust all the way in, was squeezed so tightly it was almost painful. A sharp pleasure, enough to make his skin prickle, washed over Jester’s entire body. Jester, who had been frantically clinging to Weather’s body, let out a pained moan. The thumping sound of their hearts, pressed chest to chest, mingled to the point where it was impossible to tell whose was whose.

Soon, reason evaporated into white nothingness, and the skin that had been touching gently began to collide with forceful impact.

“Ah, ah, ah…!”

“Weather, haah, Weather…!”

As if to ask when it had ever been teasing, the penis stabbed his rear rapidly. Splat, splat, the melted gel and bodily fluids mixed and splattered everywhere. The skin, flushed and stinging from the collisions, also became slick with moisture.

Because of the pleasure that felt like their nerves were burning away, they couldn’t think about anything. They simply brought their lips together instinctively and bit down on each other’s tongues. Their swollen lips burst, one after the other. Blood that flowed from the split skin mixed with saliva and trickled down.

“It’s good, ha, Weather… so good….”

“Jester, ah, haah, I, I’m about to come…!”

“Let it out, Weather.”

Jester wrapped his hand around the penis, which was swollen as if it would burst, and quickly stroked it. Weather’s body convulsed uncontrollably from the ecstasy surging from front and back. Veins popped on the back of his hand as it roamed over the sofa. Scraape, his fingers, which scraped harshly against the leather surface, trembled relentlessly. Jester grabbed one of Weather’s hands and wrapped Weather’s arm around his own neck. He frantically nuzzled their noses together and sucked on his lips, whispering.

“It’s okay. You can scratch me, Weather, hold me, hold me tight. Hold me and let it out….”

Weather pulled the sweaty nape and back into a crushing embrace. He tried not to dig his fingernails into the skin, but it was no use. His lower abdomen, reaching its climax, tensed stiffly and strength flowed into his fingertips. The feeling of falling that had been clinging to his toes instantly shot up through his entire body.

“Jester, ah, ah, ah…!”

“Yes, Weather. Tighter, hold me tighter….”

Sputter, splat. The ejaculated semen drenched Jester’s hand and torso and dripped down. Jester, licking the fluid from his fingers, held Weather’s cheeks. He carefully took in the face disheveled with the afterglow of ejaculation.

Weather also gazed at the languidly smiling face, his own semen smeared on its lips. Brushing back the messy hair, he used his thumb to push the glob of his own semen hanging from the corner of the lips into Jester’s mouth. Jester, who sucked it in without a second thought, nibbled on the tip of the thumb.

“Jester.”

“Yes?”

“You can move hard.”

The penis filling him had stopped so as not to startle the body that had become sensitive from the release. At Weather’s words, Jester smiled softly and asked back, Really? Weather silently wrapped his legs around Jester’s waist. As he pulled with his legs, press, the deeply embedded penis prodded his inner walls.

Hngh! With a rough gasp, Jester’s upper body swayed. He supported himself on his elbows, but his fingertips, inevitably bearing his weight, scraped the sofa with a scriiitch. Weather, unable to tear his eyes from the flushed face, caressed the back of Jester’s hand. The raised veins squirmed under his palm. Just as Jester had done, he guided his hand to his own body.

“You’ll ruin your nails. If you’re going to scratch something, scratch me instead.”

“Haah…. I could never do that.”

“Biting with your mouth is okay, but scratching with your nails isn’t?”

Weren’t teeth harder than fingernails? When Weather playfully retorted, Jester, who had been blinking his clear eyes, grinned.

“Biting is a caress, but scratching is torment.”

“If scratching is torment, then how much have I tormented you? I should reflect on my actions.”

There had been countless times when he couldn’t control his strength and had scraped his back and left handprints.

“Your torment is always welcome, Weather. You have no idea how sweet it is.”

Jester, gently stroking the torso that was a mess of bruises he had made, had his hips bitten. The penis that had been sliding out, ziiip, stopped at the tip. His fingertips, which had been roaming over the chest, also gradually moved downward. The tightly joined opening was swollen from the friction. Jester, rubbing the area messy with melted gel and bodily fluids with his fingertips, whispered languidly.

“Instead of scratching your precious skin.”

“Ha, ah….”

“It would be better to scratch your insides, Weather.”

The penis that had been barely sheathing its head plunged in without warning. Two hands that were too hot for Weather gripped his buttocks. Due to the applied force, he could vividly feel the mass of flesh moving in and out between his spread cheeks.

The swollen head persistently pressed against his insides before pulling out. A wet sound continuously came from the flesh that was stretched to its limit and slickly joined. The skin colliding hard felt like being hit with a dull thud. As the fluid trickled down his tailbone and soaked the sofa, the leather made a squelching sound every time their clinging bodies pulled apart.

“Hngh! Ah, ah…!”

“Weather…, ugh, haah…. Weather….”

Engulfed in pleasure, Weather tilted his chin back. Veins stood out on his tensed neck. As if mesmerized, Jester reached out and wrapped his arms around the back of Weather’s neck and waist. As he pulled and made the upper body sit up, the insertion became even deeper. Jester, wrapping both arms around the hips that had jolted up, frantically sucked on the prominent Adam’s apple.

“Ugh…!”

Weather suddenly pushed his shoulders and held the face of Jester, who had fallen backward. The flushed red face was dazed and unfocused. The plumply swollen lips and disheveled expression were excessively lewd.

Snatching the hands that were wrapped around his waist, Weather pinned them to the sofa and moved his hips. Jester, unable to move a muscle, felt the pleasure inflicted upon him in its entirety and panted for breath.

“Ugh, ha, ah, Weather, Weather…, We, ther….”

“Does it feel, haah…. good? Hmm?”

“Mmm, it’s good. Good…. It feels fucking good….”

The roughly cracked voice was proof of his excitement. Weather, not wanting to miss even a single moment, stared intently at the face contorting in escalating pleasure and thrust his body rapidly.

“Ha, ah, ah, hngh, eugh…!”

“More, Weather, faster…!”

Weather moved his hips, chasing the ceaselessly intensifying stimulation. His inner walls clung to the mass of flesh and were pulled out, only to be quickly thrust into again and again. His golden eyes, shot with blood from burst capillaries, stared at Weather.

Jester thrusted his hips, chasing a greater ecstasy and amplifying the movement. Between their sharp, panting breaths, a sob, whose it was impossible to tell, escaped. It felt as if their brains would melt from the soaring heat.

“Ah, Jes, Jester…, ugh!”

“Keuk…!”

Jester, who had suddenly broken free from his bound hands, threw his arms strongly around Weather’s neck. At the same time, the rough movements that had been continuing also stopped together. Thump, with a force that seemed to reverberate through his entire body, semen burst from the tip of the penis that was buried all the way to the end. A warm yet chilling sensation filled Weather’s insides. The two bodies, pressed together without a single gap, twitched as if in a convulsion.

“Haah, Weather….”

“Ah, haah….”

Weather, relaxing his stiffened body, let out intermittent breaths. Jester felt his chest grow damp and smiled languidly. He found him, who was cumming so quickly today, to be lovely. Even though there was no more room to press closer, he needlessly shifted his body to bring their skin into tighter contact. Peck, he mumbled as he kissed the exposed nape of his neck.

“You’re fast, Weather. You let it out again. Did it feel good?”

“I told you. I don’t have the confidence to hold it in today for some reason.”

Weather made a pained sound, as if a little embarrassed.

“Did you miss me, perhaps?”

It seemed the half-day separation had stimulated his heart. Indeed, that was the case for Jester. Just from being apart for that short while, his body had heated up the moment he saw Weather, and he too had ejaculated faster than usual.

“Why add ‘perhaps’? It’s an obvious thing to say.”

“You’re right. Why did I add ‘perhaps.’ It’s an obvious thing to say.”

As they met each other’s grinning gazes, Weather smiled widely. Then he looked at Jester’s bloodshot eyes pitifully, before covering his eyelids and stroking them gently.

It was ticklish. The skin where Weather’s fingertips brushed, and inside his chest where flower seeds were adrift.

“It looks like cotton candy.”

Was it this spring? Weather had once looked with fascination at dandelion seeds blooming on the roadside. Gazing at a single swaying stalk, he said it reminded him of the cotton candy he had eaten a while ago, adding that it was the first time he had looked closely at the seeds.

“If I hadn’t tried cotton candy, I probably would have just passed by without even realizing they were similar. I hesitated at first because it’s a lump of sugar, but I’m glad I tried it, Jester. Now, every time I see dandelion seeds, I think I’ll remember the cotton candy I ate with you. We’ve gained another memory.”

That there seem to be so many things in the world that are different but similar. Jester thought Weather, whispering with a serious face, was incredibly lovely.

At the same time, a mischievous urge surged, and he suddenly flopped onto the street. A startled Weather tried to pull him up, but he resisted firmly and urged him to join. Whenever he acted eccentrically like this, Weather would get very flustered, but being soft-hearted, he would always end up joining in without much complaint.

That day was the same. Following Jester who was lying on the street, Weather also took his place beside him. Towards Weather, who had lain down beside him without knowing why, Jester blew hard at the dandelion seeds right in front of his nose. The scattered seeds fwisssshed and covered Weather’s face. A few even went into his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

Toward his bewildered face, Jester smiled brightly.

“Did you eat it?”

“Yeah. I swallowed it.”

“Oh no, that’s big trouble. They grow in your stomach.”

When he said that, Weather let out a hollow laugh.

“Don’t tease me, Jester.”

“I’m not teasing, it’s true. When it gets inside your stomach, it eats the nutrients from the food you eat and grows and grows.”

“Really? Is that so….”

At that moment, a mischievous light suddenly appeared in Weather’s green eyes. Jester, anticipating what was to come, tried to get up, but the hand cupping the back of his head was faster.

Weather, having stopped his movement, blew with all his might. The counterattack of the flower seeds came back. Since it was expected, he had pressed his lips together tightly beforehand and was able to avoid the seeds trying to invade his mouth.

An annoyed Weather lunged at him, and since he had no intention of avoiding his kiss attack, he readily opened his mouth. From Weather’s tongue that rummaged inside his mouth, there was a strangely bitter taste. It was the trace of the dandelion seeds.

Since that day, Weather often said this.

“Are the flower seeds flying around?”

It feels like the dandelion seeds he swallowed back then are flying around inside his chest. That’s why his chest feels ticklish, that’s what Weather said. Jester regretted that he hadn’t swallowed the flower seeds that had tickled his face that day.

It wasn’t because he didn’t understand his expression. It was because he understood it so desperately, in a way that couldn’t be described with words, that he felt more regret. After that, whenever their chests felt ticklish, they thought of the swaying flower seeds.

“The flower seeds are flying around, Weather.”

Like Jester was now. And it seemed it was the same for Weather.

“Me too.”

“I know. We’re one body, after all.”

The eyes crinkled into a smile that was nothing short of lewd. Weather, realizing the presence filling his insides was still hard, let out a laugh.

“Aren’t you hungry? Or do you want to go more? Should I pull out? Or should I move?”

“Haha! You have no mood, Weather!”

Weather, pulling his lover’s cheek who was laughing like a boy, swallowed the laughter with a kiss.

🎥

After tumbling around to their heart’s content, they were noticeably hungry. Chewing on cold pizza, they lounged side by side on the sofa and watched a recording of ‘Louis’s’ play. Weather, who said he had replayed it several times, couldn’t take his eyes off the screen, as if he never got tired of it.

Jester stuck close to his side and explained the details of the play. The changes in lighting according to the character’s emotions and the hidden tricks in the stage production. Things he had considered while acting. Or even the minor parts of the play that had to be revised several times due to a chronic habit of the opposing actor.

It was because when he chattered on like that, Weather’s gaze, which had been fixed on the screen, would turn to Jester. Weather was completely unaware that it was an interruption meant to capture his attention.

“Were you lonely being by yourself today?”

No matter how many times a face identical to his own moved beyond the screen, the one Weather loved was the Jester who existed in reality. It wouldn’t have been able to fill the empty space.

How lonely an outing without his partner must have been. Of course, it was unavoidable, but he regretted leaving Weather alone to that extent. Jester was confident that Weather missed him just as much as he had missed Weather.

“Hmm? Oh, it was fine.”

Right. As expected, Weather was also lone—. Jester, stopping mid-thought, faced Weather.

“You were lonely?”

“No, I said it was fine.”

Did I hear that correctly just now? Jester, mulling over Weather’s words, doubted his own ears.

“It was fine?”

“Yeah. It was fine, …what’s wrong?”

Weather, who had been answering calmly, flinched. The expression on Jester’s face was unusual. He looked like someone who was flustered by an unexpected situation, or as if he had been hit on the back of the head. Or he looked like a lost child.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden, Jester. Are you sick? Did you get indigestion? I knew I shouldn’t have let you eat cold pizz….”

“Weather.”

Jester, his lips trembling, spoke in a wavering voice.

“You definitely said you missed me earlier.”

“Yeah. I did, didn’t I?”

“But you weren’t lonely? Even though you missed me?”

The words that followed quietly were even tinged with resentment, flustering Weather.

“No, of course I missed you a lot. I kept waiting for you to come back.”

“Right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

The sullen golden eyes scanned Weather’s face thoroughly. There was no sign of deceit to be found. Just as he relaxed his expression and was about to whine, “You scared me,” Jester had no choice but to freeze up again at Weather’s next words.

“But being alone doesn’t seem so bad either, Jester.”

Weather, not sensing the air that had gone silent in an instant, spoke while watching the play head toward its climax.

“It might be nice to just laze around by myself like this sometimes. I think I kind of get why you wanted to take a walk by yourself.”

“……”

Engulfed in shock, Jester couldn’t find his words. He listened with a vacant face to Weather’s continuing words.

“Let’s have our own time like this every now and then. You need it too. Time to be completely alone, I mean.”

“……”

“How was your walk today? If it was okay, tomorrow too…, ah, damn it. He’s crying so sadly….”

Watching ‘Louis’ wail as he buried the bodies of his beloved lover, family, and colleagues with his own hands, Weather bit his lip. He knew it was a play, but his expression said he was heartbroken to see ‘Louis’ so sad.

“……”

“How can it be a rest when you’re not here?”

Liar. You definitely said that.

Jester stared at Weather, who said that resting by himself was fine, as if he were seeing a ghost. It was unbelievable. How could this be? He had thought only of Weather the entire time he was facing other people. He had gone out alone because he had no choice. If it weren’t for the task of gathering information about his childhood, he would never have gone out alone, leaving him behind. In fact, he had never wanted time for himself.

But how can you say that being alone was fine? What did you do while I was gone? What kind of time did you have?

“I’ve made up my mind, Jester. I will never make you cry. Even though I know it’s acting, my heart hurts so much seeing you cry.”

“……”

“But you sometimes get tears in your eyes when you’re excited…. Let’s exclude crying because you feel good. But I will make sure you never cry out of sadness.”

Weather, pulling over the hand that had been lying limply and giving it a peck, said resolutely.

“I’ll make you happy, Jester.”

“Ah….”

But Weather. You said you wouldn’t make me cry…. but I feel like I want to cry right this instant. Jester, swallowing down the resentment that surged up to his throat, pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“Okay. …Thank you, Weather.”

The task he had started for Weather’s sake had flowed into an unforeseen situation. Jester realized that something had gone wrong.

🎥

He shouldn’t have gone out alone. The information about his childhood could have been sufficiently resolved through a search. Perhaps because he had grown accustomed to a life of tackling things head-on, the biggest mistake was that he had only thought of finding out in person.

If he had known that Weather, left alone like that, would come to enjoy the time without him, he would never have gone out by himself. The fact that Weather, of all people, had thought such a thing plunged Jester into shock.

He wasn’t doubting Weather’s love. That was the kind of thing one couldn’t dare to doubt. However, what shocked Jester was that the short time he was gone had become a rest for Weather. In other words, it meant that he had been tiring Weather out.

Jester looked back on his past self. He desperately searched his memory, hoping he had been a relatively mature and cool lover, but all that came to mind was him clinging to Weather, demanding attention. Although Weather always showed his love through clear actions and words, his reserved nature meant he never clung needlessly.

But Jester was different. He would hang on Weather’s back while he was vacuuming, disrupting the cleaning, or deliberately not dry himself after a shower because he liked Weather blow-drying his hair, or he would hide all of Weather’s underwear, putting him in a predicament.

Was that all? He had scoffed at Mikhail from within Weather’s arms after Weather had fended off a surprise attack, which made an even more furious Mikhail chase after them with a vengeance, and the number of times he had seduced him while he was driving to get down to business was countless. He could recall an infinite number of other instances if he tried, but Jester decided to wrap up his thoughts there.

He’d have every reason to want to be alone.

That was the conclusion. Because when he imagined someone other than Weather doing that to him, he felt so fed up he could click his tongue. No matter how tolerant Weather was toward him, he might have been gradually getting tired of his childish pranks and the repetitive routine. That’s probably why today’s rest was so welcome.

In that case, what did Weather do by himself? He said he replayed the play, so was he just watching the screen the whole time? With no large body clinging to him, he probably lay down comfortably and watched at a leisurely pace. And since there was no one talking to him, it would have been good for concentrating fully.

Moreover, ‘Louis’ was there beyond the screen, so Weather’s mind would have been satisfied. Isn’t that a truly ordinary rest?

…I’m curious. Now that I imagine it, I’ve become truly curious. What Weather does and how he spends his time when left alone. How he rests in a place where I am not. What makes him comfortable. Don’t I need to know that so I can be considerate of Weather too?

“Is that fun?”

“Yes. It’s interesting.”

I should stop by the mart soon and buy some ingredients, Weather whispered to himself as he read 『100 Recipes for a Healthy Body』. It was a book Weather had been completely absorbed in lately. He looked incredibly focused, gently stroking Jester’s cream-colored hair with one hand while turning the pages.

Jester thought to himself without any particular reply, burrowing into Weather’s side. He decided he would have to go out tomorrow as well. To be precise, he would have to ‘pretend’ to go out to observe Weather’s rest while he was left alone.

🎥

“I’m going for a short walk, Weather.”

It was a statement that shattered the tranquility of a cup of coffee enjoyed with quiet, lyric-free music, warm sunshine, and a perfectly cool temperature. Blink, blink. Weather, who had been staring blankly, blinked his eyes and belatedly opened his mouth. The look of surprise was palpable.

“Now?”

“Yes. Now.”

“You haven’t even finished your coff—, …oh, you finished it.”

“Yes. The coffee was especially delicious today, wasn’t it? I can feel your coffee-making skills improving day by day, Weather.”

“Ah, really? Was it okay?”

Weather smiled happily, as if he had never been flustered. It was a sweet remark that made his efforts feel worthwhile.

Weather, who was naturally gifted with his hands, was the type to pour his heart into even the smallest things. He would often become proficient at something new as soon as he got the hang of it, and that talent was especially evident in his cooking. He would carefully observe Jester’s expression and reaction as he tasted the food, perfectly catering to his culinary preferences.

Jester chose to accept Weather’s efforts with pure joy instead of feeling sorry or trying to stop him. He knew well that doing so made Weather even happier.

Normally, he would have slowly savored Weather’s perfect coffee, but unfortunately, today he had a purpose. He couldn’t afford to linger. Jester, holding the empty coffee cup, got up.

“It was a perfect coffee, Weather. I’ll go enjoy my walk and come back. You’ll be staying here at the lodge, right?”

“Yes. I’ll rest here. Have a good walk.”

Jester left the lodge with Weather seeing him off. His leisurely footsteps picked up speed once he passed the corner of the building. He turned into a deserted alley, quickly reached the back of the private lodge where they were staying, and then quieted his steps.

Pressing his body tightly against the wall, Jester peered at the kitchen window. In spite of his efforts to move secretly, the angle was disappointing. He couldn’t see the living room. It can’t be helped. Just as he was about to boldly head towards the living room window, something unexpected happened before his eyes.

…Weather?

Creak, the door opened and Weather came outside. Jester, hastily pressing himself against the wall, held his breath.

Why did Weather come out? Where is he going?

Weather, who had pulled his hat down low, strode forward. Judging by his quick pace, he seemed to have a destination. He had clearly said he would be resting at the lodge, yet he was going out so soon after I left? What urgent business could he have to be in such a hurry? Jester wanted to call out to him right away and ask where he was going.

Where are you going without me? Where are you going in such a hurry? Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that you were going out? Surely you weren’t just waiting for me to leave, were you?

“……”

Jester’s expression grew cold. His face hardening, he followed Weather. The word ‘surely’ kept circling in his head, trying to show him ridiculous imaginations.

Weather secretly meeting someone while he was away. That was a truly absurd notion. Jester, letting out a snort at his own thought, stared intently at the back of Weather’s head. The black hat, covering half of his gray hair, was constantly looking around.

The hurried steps and the head turning without rest were the actions of someone searching for something. Jester let out an incredulous sigh. Who was the person Weather was searching for? In this place where he had no connections, wasn’t there only one person he would search for so frantically?

“Ha…”

It was obvious. It was something he could have figured out if he had just thought about it a little more calmly. He had lost his reason and become a fool at Weather’s words about enjoying being alone. Right, of course. There’s no way Weather would send me off alone.

“It might be nice to just laze around by myself like this sometimes. I think I kind of get why you wanted to take a walk by yourself.”

“Let’s have our own time like this every now and then. You need it too. Time to be completely alone, I mean.”

He had said that because I was the one who first brought up things like time for myself. Weather couldn’t bring himself to confine me and had secretly followed me instead. Because he was worried something might happen.

He must have been worried about Mikhail as well. That day, the fact that the recording of the play was paused at the beginning was in the same context. After leaving without even watching it properly, he must have rushed back to the lodge. No wonder when we watched the play together, he had looked at it so seriously, making his claim of having watched it repeatedly seem hollow. And I didn’t even realize it was his first time seeing it.

“…Weather.”

He couldn’t bear not to embrace him right now. Just as Jester, smiling as if he were crumbling, was taking a step towards his lovely partner.

“Weather!”

Someone suddenly popped out and greeted Weather. Weather’s bustling movements came to a halt. Jester also paused and faced the situation before him.

“……”

He knows Weather’s name? Who is he? The person standing next to Weather was clearly someone he had never seen before. There was no one like that among the people he had encountered while staying in the village. It was absurd that a being he didn’t know knew Weather’s name. I was always by his side, so when could they have met and exchanged name—.

“Ha…”

The realization came quickly. A sigh escaped through his clenched teeth. He wasn’t always by his side. Just yesterday, hadn’t he left Weather’s side of his own volition? Could they have met then? While I was collecting information about my childhood? After he followed me out? By chance? Or do they perhaps know each other? If so, is it one-sided, or mutual?

Due to the shocking incident that once swept the nation, there were quite a few people in the lower districts who recognized them. It was natural since they walked around openly showing their faces.

It had ignited Mikhail’s pursuit several times, so it wasn’t so rare for someone who recognized them to appear. But today was the first time Weather faced someone without any reaction.

Weather was fundamentally not cruel to people, but he never narrowed the distance with anyone other than Jester. Jester was the only one he had allowed by his side.

But why. Why was Weather allowing this person his time? Why wasn’t he rejecting the person’s friendly tone and touch? Even when he was so desperately searching for me. To the point of stopping his search for me at a single call of his name.

“……”

He felt his chest, which had been expanding to its limit, shrink in an instant. His skin tingled and his mouth went dry. The figures he had been staring at blankly gradually drew closer. Their slow steps picked up speed, and when the person who had been blocking Weather’s path was the first to spot Jester.

“Oh? You’re….”

“Weather.”

Jester didn’t even hear the other person’s voice. Whoosh, Weather, whose arm was grabbed, turned around with wide eyes. It was a completely unexpected expression. Why are you surprised to see me? How can you be surprised to see me. A surge of emotion hit Jester, and he spoke.

“Who is that?”

“Jester, why are you here….”

“Who is that?”

“Huh?”

“Who is that person. I don’t know him.”

He tried to raise the corners of his mouth and speak softly, but his stiffened face only twitched. Weather, looking back and forth between the face tinged with anxiety and the tightly gripped hand, opened his mouth.

“Jester, this is….”

“You came out to find me, right?”

“Huh? No, that’s….”

“If you didn’t come out to find me, then who did you come out to find?”

“Um, excuse me….”

The other person, who had been cautiously watching from the sidelines, suddenly interjected. But Jester’s gaze was fixed on Weather’s face.

“You’re not fighting because of me, are you…? I’m just mistaken, right?”

“Heather, you should get going now….”

“Heather?”

He even knows the other person’s name? A crack finally appeared on Jester’s face. He stared at the confused green eyes, not even realizing that he was cornering Weather.

“You came out to find him? Not me?”

“Jester, that’s not it….”

“Look, I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but it’s a misunderstanding. Please don’t fight and calm down a bit….”

“I’m not fighting with Weather, but.”

Jester cut him off sharply and turned his gaze to look down at Heather.

“You are the cause, that’s for sure.”

“Excuse me? No, what did I do….”

“You called Weather’s name and grabbed Weather’s arm. And Weather just let you be. You two looked very friendly in my eyes. Are you acquainted with Weather?”

“No, Jester!”

Weather’s face hardened as he held Jester’s cheeks and met his eyes. He shook his head, gazing into the wavering golden eyes.

“It’s not a friendly relationship or anything like that. We’re not acquainted either.”

“Liar.”

“Jester, why would you say that. Why would I lie to you.”

“I’m asking because I’m curious about that, Weather. You know his name, but you say you’re not acquainted? You let him touch you and just stood there talking to him, and you’re not acquainted? Don’t say you don’t know each other. That’s even stranger. It’s better if you are acquainted. At least then I can try to understand.”

His heart quickly calmed by the touch on his cheeks, Jester covered Weather’s hand with his own and added in a somewhat softer tone.

“I’m sorry for cornering you… but no matter how I think about it, I don’t understand. So please explain what happened. Why you came outside when you said you’d be at the lodge, and who that person is. I hate that there’s something I don’t know about you.”

It doesn’t feel good. At the limply added words, Weather’s green eyes wavered greatly. At Jester’s single remark, he felt his artificial heart plummet to his feet. Weather, who had been frozen like a stone statue and swallowing dry breaths, gently stroked the cheek in his hand.

“Jester.”

“……”

Yes. It was a faint reply. A voice you couldn’t hear if you weren’t listening closely. But to Weather, it came through clearly.

“I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything you’re curious about. So don’t make that face.”

Weather looked painfully at the face that leaned weakly against his palm. Was it possible for a face that was neither smiling nor angry, a hardened face that belonged nowhere, to be this heartbreaking? This expression right now tore at Weather’s heart more than the sobbing he had seen in the play last night.

“Don’t cry. I’m sorry.”

“What are you talking about. I’m not crying.”

Jester raised the corner of his lips slightly and whispered. Weather, smiling bitterly, added.

“Your feelings were crying.”

“……”

My feelings were crying. What a strange thing to say. But for some reason, Jester felt that the expression accurately described his feelings. Because a moment ago, rather than feeling like he was about to cry, it definitely felt as if his feelings themselves were crying.

“That’s a good expression, Weather. I think you’re right. Until just a moment ago, my feelings were crying.”

“Jester….”

“But I’m weak when it comes to you, Weather. See. Just you touching me makes my mood better and I end up smiling.”

Am I weak when it comes to you, or do you make me weak. I don’t know which is more accurate, but it doesn’t matter anyway.

Jester, taking Weather’s hand and pulling it down, looked back at Heather. Heather, who had been standing there awkwardly, not knowing what to do, flinched. Jester, as he had said, seemed to have calmed down a bit and had returned to his characteristic gentle expression, but the golden eyes staring directly at him felt strangely heavy. He was just happy to see Weather again and had greeted him, but what kind of mess was this?

“Haha, well…. You two have made up then, right?”

“Made up? We never fought in the first place.”

Jester smiled brightly and looked at Weather.

“Now it’s time to explain, Weather. Introduce him.”

“Ah, well….”

Weather looked at Heather with a troubled expression. He couldn’t carelessly reveal the fact that he was a humanoid like Weather. Heather, sensing Weather’s thoughts, shrugged lightly.

“It’s a bit much to talk in the middle of the street, shall we move to a more secluded place?”

🎥

“So you’re saying you’re also a humanoid?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Heather revealed the nape of his neck and smiled broadly. It was the first time he had felt so relieved after revealing his identity.

“As I said, I’m just a fan of Weather. I don’t have any ulterior motives, so don’t worry. I have someone like your Jester in my life too. Though it’s not mutual.”

Heather guided the two to his lodge, avoiding people’s gazes. Weather, who was cooling the coffee placed in front of Jester for him, nodded his head.

“That’s right. Heather said he also has a human in his heart, just like me. Then he came to know our story and happened to meet me yesterday. Embarrassingly, I was following you and lost you when I let my guard down. We ran into each other then and talked.”

“He was running off with such a straight face. He even threw off his hat, didn’t you? It was great for me since I could confirm his face, though. Haha.”

“…The hat kept blocking my vision. I was in a hurry because I couldn’t see you.”

Jester looked gently at the awkwardly smiling Weather and then opened his mouth.

“Were you worried about me?”

“……”

Weather couldn’t answer easily. For fear that his worry for Jester would be taken as a sign that he didn’t trust him. For fear that his excessive emotions would make him uncomfortable. For fear that he might hurt him, the words didn’t come out easily.

As he silently looked down at the coffee cup that had cooled to just the right temperature, a warm hand enveloped the back of his. It felt like a comfort, as if to say it was okay to say anything. Weather opened his mouth.

“…I was worried. That something might happen to you. That’s why I followed you. Because I wanted to protect you from any potential danger. The reason I couldn’t tell you was, …I was afraid that my actions would feel like a restraint and tire you out.”

“That was a needless worry, Weather.”

Jester, invading Weather’s field of vision, met his eyes and spoke.

“Your restraint is not a shackle, but an unchanging heart. How can your unchanging heart for me be a restraint? It’s like a magic that makes me happy, far from tiring me out.”

The time they had been apart was only about half a day. To Jester, that half-day was a time solely for Weather. It was a time spent thinking only of Weather even when he wasn’t by his side. That’s why the words that he had accepted the empty time without me as a rest had struck him like a dagger. It had delivered a shock as if he had heard something he should never have heard.

“Even if it is a restraint, it doesn’t matter. Because I need your restraint. Just know that the feelings I felt when I learned you had followed me were only relief and joy, Weather.”

“Are you serious?”

“Can’t you tell even after seeing me follow you?”

Jester added, sending a glance toward Heather, who was watching the couple’s conversation with great interest.

“When Heather touched you, my vision went dark.”

“…Anyone hearing that would think I had committed some kind of molestation.”

Heather, scrunching up his face, shook his head as if he were fed up. Regardless, Jester, shifting his gaze to Weather, continued.

“Yesterday, when I went out alone and met people, I only thought of you. I was lonely because you weren’t by my side. Half a day of time alone was enough. I resolved not to leave you, and myself, alone anymore. But Weather, you said it so casually. The fact that you said that time was fine was a shock to me.”

“Jester, that’s….”

“I know. I know why you did that. But yesterday, I didn’t have the composure to think deeply. My mind was filled with thoughts of you spending time without me. All I could think about was figuring out what made you comfortable, and what kind of rest you take. That’s why I deliberately went out today too. With the intention of secretly watching you.”

“But you unexpectedly came out.”

Because of me, who had lied and gone outside, he had followed with anxiety and ended up seeing Heather. It was a case of adding anxiety to anxiety. Weather, finally understanding the whole situation, smiled bitterly. He put down his cup and cupped Jester’s cheeks, and Jester, leaning his head with a thud, murmured.

“Weather, I restrain you even more than you can imagine.”

“…Jester.”

“Tell me you want my restraint too.”

Tell me my restraint doesn’t oppress you. The low whisper reached Weather’s ears. It took the form of a fierce breath from sometime ago and swept over the flower seeds that had grown inside Weather. Overcome with an uncontrollable emotion, he put strength into the hands cupping his cheeks.

“Jester, you always make me say the obvious.”

A smile appeared on Jester’s face, who had been waiting for an answer with a docile attitude. It was a satisfactory answer.

“So you hate it?”

This act of asking even though he clearly knows the answer, the fact that he finds it just cute must mean this is an inescapable love.

“You know I’m going to say I love you.”

“Knowing makes one more greedy.”

You’re the one who made me feel this emotion, so you take responsibility for it. Jester, adding playfully, smiled brightly. How could one not smile back after seeing that smile? Weather, who had crumbled so easily, also smiled ephemerally.

Heather, who had been sitting silently in his own lodge, unable to get a word in easily, also smiled faintly, but the corners of his mouth quickly fell. It was no different from watching the couple he was rooting for from the front row, but for some reason, it wasn’t particularly pleasant. He wondered if one had to be this lovey-dovey to be in a relationship.

“Haha, ha. I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up.”

As he spoke with a weary gaze, Weather averted his eyes with an awkward expression. The shameless Jester turned to Heather with the same smiling face.

“You said your name is Heather, right? Thanks to you, Weather and I had a good talk. I’m sorry for being rude earlier.”

“Huh? No, well. It’s not something you need to apologize for.”

“The story you told me was interesting. That you came to love your creator.”

“Yes. That’s right. I’m a humanoid like Weather, but I came to hold a human in my heart, like you, Jester. It’s a funny story, but I gained hope after coming across your story. Thinking that maybe I could become a couple with him too.”

Heather, wrinkling the freckles on the bridge of his nose as he smiled, looked a little shy. Jester’s eyes shone with interest.

“I’m happy that we gave you hope. So, have you made any progress with him?”

“It’s been over half a year since I left home and haven’t seen him.”

Far from making progress, he had in fact widened the distance. He replied lightly, but he couldn’t hide the bitterness that tinged his voice. Weather, who had heard Heather’s story earlier and knew it, sent him a quiet gaze.

“I thought things would change if I met various people and experienced a wider world…. But they didn’t. I just missed him more.”

“Do you have any thoughts of going to see him?”

At the low question, Jester turned his head. Weather, who had uttered the question, was waiting for Heather’s answer with a serious face. He looked so focused that he didn’t even notice Jester staring at him.

“I always think about it. I want to go see him right now, this very moment.”

“Are you going to go?”

“…Hmm, well. I don’t think it’s possible right now, is it?”