2

"Here, take this to Shin, he loves chocolate," I said, handing the second cup to Kenji.

The distinct noise of the café was comforting, and the sweet smell mixed with various drinks was delicious. We left the shop together, and I took a sip of my drink, finding the taste too strong—I couldn’t remember the last time I had coffee.

"I can stay with you," he said, holding two cups of hot chocolate. "If you want, of course," he added quickly.

The strong late-afternoon wind made my skin prickle. I ran my fingers through my oily hair as I looked around. The city was busy and noisy, but in a good, interesting way.

"I’ll see you later," I declined, getting into the car and leaving him behind.

I drove through the city, studying everything carefully. There were many new stores in the neighborhood, and the activity seemed busier at that time of day than I remembered.

Maybe these were good times...

I parked in front of my favorite diner and stepped out of the car without taking my eyes off the place. The sign and colors were different—purple dominated along with red and white—but fortunately, the delicious smell coming from it seemed untouched.

Before going in, I glanced at the new clothes Kenji had brought: a black shirt, dark jeans, and a white jacket. I stared at the snake design dominating the back, then grabbed only the shirt and jeans before closing the trunk. I looked around for a store with a fitting room and a beanie to hide my striking hair.

I crossed the street and entered an empty shop. The place was bigger than I remembered, with a second floor, and now they sold shoes. Half of my wardrobe came from here—the fabric was one of the best and perfectly matched my style.

I ended up choosing a soft white jacket, a dark blue beanie, and sneakers of the same color. As I headed to the fitting room, I noticed the receptionist’s sharp gaze. I changed without hurrying and removed all the tags before looking at myself in the large mirror. The clothes fit well on my body—I’d lost some weight and looked paler than usual. And my hair...

I touched my naturally white hair. The strands felt soft, but the tips were very dry. Kenji was right—it was embarrassing. I put on the beanie and left the fitting room, walking in my new sneakers. They felt tight, but maybe that was because I wasn’t used to this design anymore.

Without hesitation, I left the store, hearing the receptionist calling after me, and walked along the sidewalk, heading for the best burger and milkshake in town.

"Hey, kid!"

I stopped abruptly when the beanie was snatched off my head. I turned, feeling irritation surge in my chest. The security guard, a tall, muscular man, stared at me in surprise and shock. I clenched my jaw, aware of the curious stares of the people passing by.

"Ryuuji," he muttered hesitantly.

I held out my hand, wanting the beanie back. The guard quickly bent down and placed it in my hand.

"I didn’t know it was you. Please forgive me," he said, embarrassed.

I put the beanie back on, watching him carefully.

"I wasn’t informed you’d arrived in town. Please, forgive me," he repeated, still bowing.

"It’s fine," I said, ignoring the stares.

"Thank you," he murmured as I turned and crossed the street.

I entered the diner, letting the smell of fried food and indulgence consume me. I saw families at the tables, talking and laughing. The low music and warm lighting gave the place a rustic vibe.

I quickly approached the counter, where a free employee was busy on his phone. My mouth watered just thinking about the taste of the burger.

"A burger and a milkshake," I ordered—but I wasn’t the only one.

I looked at the boy who approached at the same time and made the same order. His dark brown eyes met mine with equal surprise.

"Okay," the employee said with a cheerful tone, unable to hide a smile. "Are you together?"

"No!" we said in unison.

He laughed more.

I shifted, impatient and hungry.

"Alright, what flavor for the milkshake?" he asked, writing down our orders.

"Chocolate," we both answered again.

I clenched my jaw, feeling the boy’s gaze studying me. The waiter walked away with our orders, and I forced myself to stay still, listening to the sounds around me and the music that made my heart race. I’d missed this.

I glanced at the boy discreetly. He was leaning on the counter, scrolling through his phone with a serious expression. I analyzed his smooth olive-toned skin and his wavy dark brown hair, which looked soft and well-maintained. My gaze shifted to the multiple silver earrings decorating his ear, then to his gray shirt and ripped jeans.

He was good-looking. Attractive.

And completely my type.

A warm sensation spread through my body, making my skin prickle and my dick throb. That, too—the desire to fuck again, to feel the pleasure consuming my skin as I came in someone’s mouth. It wasn’t like I didn’t have options in juvie. I’d met other guys who liked the same things I did, but they just didn’t turn me on.

"Burger and chocolate milkshake," the waiter placed the first order on the counter, but before I could grab it, the handsome boy got there first.

We locked eyes, and I raised an eyebrow as I saw irritation flash across his face.

"Put it on my tab," he ordered and left the diner.

I couldn’t help but smile.

"Here," the waiter said, placing the other order in front of me. I grabbed some cash and tossed it onto the counter.

"Keep the change," I said without taking my eyes off the food, feeling my stomach churn with anticipation.

I left the diner and sat on one of the stone benches nearby. The wind had gotten colder, and the sky was growing darker, but I ignored it all as I devoured the burger.

It was the best meal I’d had in months. I licked the sauce off my fingers and took several sips of the milkshake. The sweetness of the chocolate made me let out a quiet moan. However, before I could finish the burger, a low chuckle made me pause.

I turned my head to find the same guy sitting on the bench next to mine. He had the straw of his milkshake pressed between his full lips and wore a rather attractive smile. I knew it wasn’t intentional, but it made my dick stir again.

I took a bite of the burger, flipped him off, and then pulled the hood of my jacket over my head, ignoring his gaze.