Roxer's eyes narrowed.
"Why don't you mind your business, Gamer boy."
Yusuke didn't raise his voice.
"Burajiru is my business."
A ripple went through the crowd.
"Did he just."
"Defend Sleeper Boy?"
Burajiru blinked, stunned.
Roxer scoffed. "Oh. I get it now."
A crooked grin pulled at his mouth. "This some kind of love triangle? Didn't know you liked men,."
A few snickers.
Einstera leaned toward Xiu, whispering, unsettled.
"...He likes men?"
Plum. "That's what you took from that?"
Yusuke exhaled slowly, almost bored.
"Your masculinity is fragile," he said flatly.
"Burajiru is my running partner. If you crush him, I've got nobody to run with."
Roxer froze.
"...Running?"
"Yes," Yusuke replied. "Two men can enjoy something simple together. Especially on a godforsaken island where most people are pretending not to hate their lives."
His words landed harder than shouting ever could.
Even Roxer felt it.
Yusuke turned slightly, addressing everyone now.
"We're honor students. In our mid to late twenties. Supposed to be setting an example."
He glanced at Roxer and Jah Jah.
"Not embarrassing ourselves."
A quiet admiration spread through the crowd, men and women alike.
Einstera swallowed. "He's... really composed."
Plum smiled faintly. "That's Yusuke."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Jah Jah looked to Roxer, waiting "Come on bro, lets call it quits for today."
Roxer clicked his tongue, furious, not because he lost, but because continuing would make him look worse.
"I hate you," he muttered.
Yusuke shrugged. "That's fine."
Then his tone shifted, serious.
"But remember the announcement from Empress Jezrell."
Burajiru leaned toward Plum, whispering, "When was that?"
Plum patted his arm. "You were asleep, Sun Bear."
He flushed instantly.
Yusuke continued.
"In two weeks, honor students will be deployed beyond the Iron Wall."
A pause.
"To secure territory."
The crowd stilled.
"That doesn't mean everyone comes back," Yusuke said. "So maybe we treat each other like comrades instead of enemies while we still can."
No cheers this time. Just silence.
Roxer turned away.
"My only comrades are the Brothers Trinity," he said coldly. "Everyone else is expendable."
He walked off.
The tension slowly broke into whispers.
Yusuke turned back to Burajiru.
"I can't put my finger on it," he said, studying him, "but you've been finding yourself in trouble a lot lately."
His gaze flicked briefly to Plum.
Plum stuck her tongue out at him.
Burajiru blinked. "Uh, thanks. For that."
"No problem."
Burajiru hesitated. "So... it's true. Are you afraid of going Beyond the Iron wall?"
Yusuke nodded. "No."
Burajiru "...Isn't it flooded with parasites?"
"It is." He smiled faintly. "But I'll have Plum watching my back."
Burajiru's chest tightened.
He turned slowly. "That's right Pum."
She nodded. "Yeah."
Beyond the Iron Wall.
His stomach dropped.
"...That place kills people."
"I know," she said gently. "I told you this already"
Burajiru "Yeah but I guess I didn't really think about it till now."
Yusuke stretched. "I'll leave you two."
Then, almost casually:
"Cherish the time you've got."
He walked off.
They didn't speak at first.
The city hummed around them as they walked.
Finally, Plum asked softly, "Sun Bear... are you okay?"
He didn't answer.
"You're worried about me going beyond the wall," she said.
Burajiru stopped.
She stopped too.
"Why," he asked, voice tight, "do you have to go?"
Plum stepped closer. "Because that's how we protect the people here."
"What if something happens to you?"
She took his hand.
"That's why I'll get stronger," she said simply. "I'll eat more of your Abi."
His throat closed. He couldn't respond.
Burajiru "What if my Abi isn't enough?"
Plum "You're enough Sun bear."
Burajiru "You don't know that, I just found you, I don't want to lose you."
She cupped his face.
"Let's not borrow fear from the future," she whispered. "Let's just be here."
He nodded. "...Okay."
Plum hesitated, then smiled.
"Can we make it official?"
He already knew the answer. Still avoided her eyes.
Burajiru "Official... how?"
Plum "You know."
He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"...Yeah."
Plum "Say it."
Burajiru "I'm just chilling bro"
He caught himself.
"I mean."
Plum grinned.
He looked at her, really looked.
"...Yeah," he said quietly. "I'm your boyfriend."
Plum's smile softened, real, this time. She wrapped him in a tight hug.
And for a moment, the Iron Wall felt very far away.