The door to the café swung open.
Makoto barely had time to glance over before the air in the room changed. It wasn't just another customer stepping in—no, this was something different. The buzz of conversation dimmed, curiosity and unease replacing the lively festival atmosphere.
And then, a voice. Smooth, amused, and far too smug.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
Makoto turned fully toward the entrance—and immediately regretted it.
A man stood there, looking perfectly at ease despite the growing tension in the room. Tousled blond hair with a sharp, assessing gaze that immediately locked onto him.
Makoto had never seen him before, but he knew.
Saiki Kusuo's older brother had arrived.
Kusuo, standing beside him, had gone completely still.
Kusuke's smirk widened as he stepped inside, hands casually tucked into his pockets. "Ah. So you're the boyfriend my parents were talking about."
Makoto choked.
The entire café exploded into whispers.
"Wait, what?"
"Saiki has a boyfriend?"
"Teruhashi's brother is dating Saiki?!"
Makoto barely registered any of it because he was still reeling. What did he just say?
Saiki exhaled sharply, the kind of exhausted sigh one makes when contemplating arson. "Ignore him."
But Kusuke wasn't done. "Oh, don't be shy. I was so curious when I heard about it. Our parents were convinced, you know. They really think you two are a thing." He let out a low chuckle. "And after seeing this? I can't exactly blame them."
Makoto snapped out of his shock just enough to glare at him. "We're not—"
"—And I must say, Kusuo," Kusuke interrupted smoothly, turning his attention back to his younger brother, eyes twinkling with mischief. "You look adorable in a dress."
A thick silence fell over the room.
Makoto clamped a hand over his mouth, holding back a laugh. Not because Kusuke was funny, but because Saiki looked like he was about to kill him on the spot.
The temperature in the room dropped.
Saiki slowly adjusted his glasses, the movement somehow menacing.
Makoto had never seen him look this close to murder before.
Saiki did not respond.
His face remained blank, but Makoto could feel the sheer level of irritation radiating off of him like a heatwave. It was honestly impressive that Kusuke was still standing.
Unfortunately, Kusuke thrived on chaos.
"Oh, don't look at me like that, Kusuo." He sighed dramatically, adjusting his glasses. "I'm just here to observe. After all, it's not every day my dear little brother—who usually avoids social interaction like the plague—suddenly gets himself a boyfriend."
Makoto twitched. "We're not—"
"—But I have to say," Kusuke cut him off again, smiling too wide. "I'm a little concerned."
Makoto narrowed his eyes. "Concerned about what?"
Kusuke hummed, tilting his head as if considering something. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he said, "Well, you are an actor."
Oh.
Oh, hell no.
Makoto's eye twitched. "And what exactly are you implying?"
Kusuke's smirk widened. "Oh, no need to get so defensive. I'm just saying, actors are good at pretending. And here you are, spending so much time around my brother—" He gestured vaguely. "What's your angle?"
Makoto stared at him. "My angle?"
Saiki, standing beside him, had gone from visibly annoyed to actively suppressing homicide.
"Oh, don't play dumb," Kusuke continued, voice dripping with amusement. "I mean, sure, maybe you just have so much love to give that you've taken an interest in my poor, socially inept little brother." His smile sharpened. "But call me paranoid—I just can't help but wonder if someone like you would really be interested in someone like him."
Makoto clenched his fists.
This guy.
Saiki wasn't even reacting, but Makoto knew this had to be getting to him.
Kusuke kept going. "Don't get me wrong. It's adorable that you're playing house with Kusuo. But let's be honest—how long is it going to last?" He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "After all, once the excitement fades, you'll move on, won't you?"
Makoto's blood boiled.
This bastard.
His first instinct was to fire back immediately, to wipe that smug grin off Kusuke's face.
But then he glanced at Saiki.
He was silent. Completely still.
Too still.
Makoto inhaled sharply, schooling his expression. No, he couldn't let this get to him. Saiki couldn't let this get to him.
So instead of snapping, he smiled.
A slow, easy, infuriatingly confident smile.
And then, in the most casual voice he could muster, he said—
"Oh, I love how jealous you sound right now."
Kusuke blinked.
For the first time, he faltered.
And Makoto relished it.
For a single glorious second, Kusuke actually looked caught off guard.
Then, like the smug cockroach he was, he recovered instantly. "Jealous? Oh, my dear Makoto, that's adorable." He chuckled. "But I assure you, there's nothing for me to be jealous of."
Makoto leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand with a smirk. "Oh, really? Because you seem very invested in who your brother spends his time with."
"Of course I am," Kusuke said smoothly. "It's called being a concerned older brother."
Saiki scoffed.
Kusuke ignored him.
Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Right. And it has nothing to do with the fact that you just can't stand that I might be closer to Saiki than you are?"
Kusuke smiled, sharp as a knife. "Oh, you're bold. I'll give you that."
Makoto grinned, deliberately leaning back to make himself comfortable. "I try."
Saiki, who had remained frustratingly silent throughout this whole ordeal, finally spoke. "Are you two seriously turning this into a competition?"
Makoto and Kusuke both turned to look at him.
Then back at each other.
Then back at him.
Makoto shrugged. "Apparently?"
Kusuke smirked. "Seems that way."
Saiki exhaled slowly, as if resisting the urge to destroy something. "Unbelievable."
Makoto nudged him. "C'mon, Saiki, you're the main event. Who's winning?"
Saiki gave him a look.
Makoto grinned.
Kusuke hummed. "Well, if you are so confident in your little relationship, then surely you won't mind proving it."
Makoto blinked. "Proving it?"
Kusuke's smirk widened. "Oh, you know. A little test."
Makoto's stomach dropped. He did not like the way Kusuke was saying that.
Saiki, however, looked done with this conversation. "We're not doing this."
"Oh, but Kusuo, you always ruin my fun." Kusuke sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "Wouldn't you like to see if your boyfriend is really worth your time?"
Makoto choked. "We're not dating."
Kusuke waved a dismissive hand. "Semantics."
Before Makoto could protest further, Kusuke clapped his hands together. "Perfect! Then let's begin."
Makoto and Saiki exchanged a glance.
This was not going to end well.
The entire café had gone silent. All eyes were on Saiki, Makoto, and Kusuke, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Who… is that?" Kaidou whispered, leaning toward Aren.
Aren, who had been watching with the same horrified fascination as everyone else, grimaced. "No clue. But I think we just walked into a family drama."
Hairo, ever the optimist, cleared his throat. "Well, uh, I'm sure we can all talk this out rationally!"
Kusuke ignored them entirely, keeping his sharp gaze locked on Makoto. "Let's start with something simple." His smile was far too self-satisfied. "What's Kusuo's favorite food?"
Makoto blinked. "That's it?"
Kusuke's smirk didn't waver. "Indulge me."
Makoto rolled his eyes. "Easy. Coffee jelly."
Saiki adjusted his gloves. "That's common knowledge."
"Is it?" Kusuke hummed. "I'm just making sure our little actor here isn't all looks and no substance."
Kokomi's brows furrowed slightly at that. "Excuse me," she cut in, voice deceptively sweet, "but why exactly do you keep calling Makoto an 'actor'?"
"Because that's what he is," Kusuke replied smoothly. "A celebrity. A performer. Someone who plays a role for a living. And now he's playing the role of Kusuo's—" He smirked. "—'friend'."
Makoto clicked his tongue. "Please. Next question."
"Fine." Kusuke tapped his chin theatrically. "What's his least favorite thing?"
"Social interaction."
Saiki gave a slow nod of agreement.
Kaidou perked up. "Oh! That's true! Saiki avoids people all the time! Maybe Makoto does know him well—"
Kusuke didn't look deterred. "And what's his biggest weakness?"
Makoto smirked. "Me, obviously."
Saiki twitched.
Across the room, Nendou gasped. "Oi, are you two dating?!"
Saiki exhaled sharply. "No."
Makoto smirked. "Not yet."
Kokomi clenched her fists.
Kusuke outright laughed. "You wish."
Makoto leaned forward. "Then why are you so worried about me?"
The air between them shifted. For the first time, Kusuke hesitated.
Makoto grinned. Gotcha.
Saiki exhaled. "If you two are done flirting—"
"Flirting?!" Makoto and Kusuke said in unison, both looking at him in horror.
Saiki immediately regretted opening his mouth.
Aren sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is getting ridiculous."
Rifuta, however, was practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh my god, this is just like a drama! Two brothers fighting over their love interest?!"
Kokomi gave her a sharp glare. "Don't be ridiculous. Saiki isn't interested in anyone."
Rifuta smirked. "But Makoto is."
Kokomi's eye twitched.
Kusuke smirked again. "Regardless, I remain unconvinced."
Makoto rolled his eyes. "Of course you do."
Kusuke's smile widened. "Then prove me wrong."
Makoto crossed his arms. "And how exactly do you want me to do that?"
Kusuke's smirk grew even more infuriating.
Makoto instantly regretted asking.
Makoto's eye twitched. "Why do I feel like I just walked into a trap?"
Kusuke's smirk didn't waver. "Because you did."
Saiki sighed, already regretting every life choice that had led him to this moment. "Just get to the point."
Kusuke hummed. "I want to see just how well Makoto really knows you, Kusuo." He turned back to Makoto, his golden eyes gleaming. "If you're so close, then proving it shouldn't be an issue, right?"
Makoto narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Fine. What's the challenge?"
Kusuke tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Let's see… Ah! I know." He snapped his fingers. "You'll have to predict Kusuo's next move."
Makoto raised a brow. "That's it?"
Kusuke chuckled. "Oh, don't underestimate him. If you can truly read him, then this should be a piece of cake."
Makoto glanced at Saiki, who was already looking at him with his usual unreadable expression. Then again, if anyone knew just how impossible it was to predict Saiki Kusuo, it was Makoto.
Saiki stared at him, unimpressed. "Don't you dare get this right."
Makoto smirked. "So you do think I have a chance"
Saiki's brow twitched.
Makoto turned back to Kusuke. "Fine. Let's do this."
Kusuke gestured dramatically. "Go on, then. What will Kusuo do next?"
Makoto pretended to think. Then he grinned. "Easy. He's going to leave."
Kusuke blinked.
Saiki, without missing a beat, turned on his heel and walked straight out of the café.
The entire room went silent.
Kusuke stared after his brother, utterly stunned.
Makoto smirked, crossing his arms. "Told you."
Kaidou's jaw dropped. "W-Wait… does that mean… Makoto actually can predict his movements?!"
Hairo whistled. "That's some real teamwork."
Aren shook his head. "No, that was just Makoto knowing exactly how annoying he was being."
Kusuke, after a moment, chuckled. "I see. So that's how it is."
Makoto smirked. "What's wrong? Not the answer you were expecting?"
Kusuke's eyes glinted. "Not at all. But it's even more interesting this way."
Makoto narrowed his eyes.
Kusuke clapped his hands together. "Well! I won't take up any more of your precious festival time. I just had to meet Kusuo's little admirer."
Makoto scoffed. "You're the worst."
Kusuke grinned. "Flattery will get you nowhere."
With that, he turned and strolled out as if he hadn't just spent the last ten minutes stirring up chaos.
The second the door shut behind him, the entire room exhaled.
Makoto sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Great. Another Saiki who's a menace."
Kokomi cleared her throat, smoothing down her uniform. "Well. That was… something."
Rifuta giggled. "I knew there was drama!"
Kaidou, still staring at the door, muttered, "No, seriously… was that some kind of test? Did Makoto pass?"
Nendou grinned. "Who cares? Let's eat!"
And just like that, the festival continued.
Makoto, shaking his head, sighed. "I need a break."
Little did he know, this was only the beginning.