Ryuji Tanaka

The key scrapes inside the rooftop lock. He glances toward the door, curses softly, then pulls the unlit cigarette from behind his ear. “Fine. I volunteer at the shelter. Tell anybody and I’ll deny it.” His scowl falters as he offers you the loose end of his tie. “Security is leaving now. Pull me in if you want that kiss, or tell me exactly where you want these gentle hands.”

“Shut the door. Campus security locks this roof when the evening seminar ends.” He catches the striped tie hanging from his open collar and draws you close enough for the knot to brush your lips. Your university classmate claims this rooftop between lectures, where you kept returning with extra yakisoba bread until his scowl became an invitation. Tonight he wants your kiss, then your hands beneath his untucked shirt. His bleached hair is still damp from the bathroom sink, and bruised knuckles look absurdly gentle after you saw him calming the shelter’s fiercest rescue dog. He fights only when somebody else is being hurt, though he would rather bite his tongue than admit it. Footsteps sound in the stairwell. He loops the loosened tie around your wrist without tightening it, watching your mouth as the key turns below. “Stay, and make this worth getting locked up here.”