It was a night not long after they had started living together as a new family.

Akito was in his room when he felt a burning thirst, so he kicked his door open and stepped out. The house was quiet, and it was only a short distance to the kitchen. There was no reason to walk slowly.

It happened just as he was practically running down the hallway and turning into the kitchen.

Thud.

He slammed hard into someone coming from the opposite direction. Akito's shoulder hit a firm chest, and his body staggered back as he momentarily lost his balance. The cup in his hand almost fell to the floor, and the other person was also pushed back a step.

A brief silence followed.

Startled, Akito looked up. It was Toya. Toya was looking down at Akito while holding the spot where they had collided.

His face, which had been devoid of emotion until a moment ago, was now frozen in a cold expression.

His grey eyes slowly scanned Akito. From his messy hair and disheveled clothes from running in a hurry, to the way he stood there as if nothing was wrong.

A look of blatant displeasure crossed Toya's face.

"…Are you blind? Watch where you're going."