Morning Aftermath.

By the time Dante stirred awake, the bed beside him was empty.

He blinked into the hazy light spilling through the curtains, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling. His body ached, remnants of the previous night still lingering in his muscles. Slowly, the events filtered back—someone’s house, too much to drink, Taiga…

But now, Taiga was gone.

No note. No trace. Not even a whiff of his cologne on the pillow.

A sharp knock at the door dragged him further from his thoughts.

Dante groaned and ran a hand through his tousled hair. “Be down in a minute,” he muttered, voice gravelly from sleep. He rolled out of bed, wandered into the attached bathroom, and splashed cold water on his face. A glance in the mirror revealed what he already felt—slightly hungover, a little disheveled, but still Dante Kurobane. Unbothered. Mostly.

Once dressed and marginally presentable, he headed downstairs, phone in hand. He paused on the last step when he caught sight of the host seated at the dining table—tall, broad-shouldered, with a ridiculous grin that stretched from cheek to cheek.

A plume of steam curled from the teacup cradled in the man's hands.

“Ah, good morning, Mr...?” the host asked with casual cheer.

“Dante,” he replied, checking his phone. A message from Maya sat unread. He didn’t open it yet. Didn't want to. Not if it was what he thought it was.

“I was just about to leave,” he added, tucking the phone back in his pocket.

“Let me serve you breakfast first,” the man offered, his voice pleasant but firm. “It’s the least I can do.”

There was a note of finality in his tone—one that said refusal wasn't really on the table.

Dante sighed inwardly. He didn’t care for politeness, but he also didn’t feel like stirring unnecessary trouble with whoever this cheerful guy was. Besides, if this walking ball of sunshine was going to be part of the Shirakiba Wolves, Dante might as well gather some intel.

“Yeah, sure,” Dante replied coolly, sliding into the seat opposite him. “I’ll pass on the breakfast, though. Thanks.”

The man chuckled and didn’t press. “Takori. Takori Komori,” he offered. “Coach and founder of the new Shirakiba Wolves team. Pleasure to meet you.”

Dante raised a brow, unimpressed. “That so?”

Takori sipped his tea, eyes dancing over the rim. “I have two players who won me the Winter Cup this year. Very valuable assets.”

“And what the hell does that have to do with me?” Dante snapped, already annoyed by the man’s upbeat energy.

Takori didn’t flinch. “I’m not trying to intimidate you. Just… hear me out.” The grin never left his face. “Apparently, your team faced mine in the finals. Makes sense we talk, no?”

“Talk about what? Who’s better at three-pointers?”

“About Maya and Taiga.”

Dante stiffened.

Takori’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “They’re dating, right? Or ‘in a relationship’—as the kids say.”

Dante stared at him. “Dude, you’re what, two years older than us? Don’t act like some wise old monk.”

Takori barked a laugh that grated on Dante’s nerves.

“I’m aware, I’m aware,” Takori said between chuckles. “But I bring this up because, well... we’re in the same situation.”

That caught Dante off guard. He narrowed his eyes. “What situation?”

“You and Taiga,” Takori said plainly. “How did you do it? How did you convince Maya to be on board?”

Dante’s breath caught.

He knows.

Shit.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked, masking the flicker of panic with irritation. But deep down, something cold and unpleasant twisted in his gut. Takori had to be high-ranking—probably an Enigma. Only someone powerful could stir fear in Dante this easily.

Takori didn’t let up. “Did you talk Maya into sharing Taiga? Or are you sneaking around behind his back?”

Dante shot to his feet. “That’s none of your business.”

But Takori’s calm voice followed him. “I’m not trying to blackmail you. I’m genuinely curious. I want the same thing—but my lover isn’t on board with it yet. That’s why I’m asking.”

Dante paused mid-stride.

Something about the man's eyes—too direct, too sincere—made him stop. He wasn’t being malicious. Just… painfully honest.

Dante sighed and ran a hand down his face.

“He’s really just curious. God, why does this feel like therapy?”

He sat back down.

“Maya and I are trying to get Taiga on board,” he admitted. “That’s where we’re at.”

Takori blinked, genuinely surprised. “Wait... but you and Taiga already hooked up, right? Haven’t you already won?”

Dante’s jaw clenched. “No. That was a mistake. Maya doesn’t know about it. Not yet.”

Takori tilted his head, whistled softly. “Rough.”

“You have no idea,” Dante muttered. Then, without another word, he stood again and walked out of the house.

Takori leaned back in his chair, letting Dante’s confession settle. “Mmm. Rin won’t appreciate that,” he said to himself, standing to start his own day.

---

Taiga had left as soon as he’d woken.

Dante’s arms had still been wrapped around his waist. His body ached in the most telling way. He'd wanted to stay. God, he wanted to.

But the thought of Maya’s face—his bright eyes, his laugh, the way he looked at him like he was something precious—that thought made Taiga sick to his stomach.

He had cheated. There was no sugarcoating it.

What started as a plan to get close, kiss Dante, and twist the narrative into something Maya could hate... spiraled into something else entirely.

They’d gone all the way.

“God, why did I get so drunk?” Taiga hissed, voice low and full of regret. “Why didn’t I stop it?”

His mind raced.

Maya would be heartbroken if he found out. When he found out.

“I need to talk to Dante. Make sure he keeps his mouth shut.”

On his way out, he’d bumped into Takori. The man had barely looked at him, just offered a knowing nod. Taiga could feel the mess he was—hair mussed, lips bruised. Anyone with eyes would know what had happened.

He’d given a small, sheepish smile. Takori didn’t ask. Thank God.

“I don’t have the energy for any awkward conversations right now,” he muttered to himself as he left. The house was mostly quiet. Everyone else must’ve already gone.

---

Later that day, Dante’s phone buzzed again.

It was a message from Maya.

"Hey. Did you get a chance to talk to Taiga today? Did you try to bring up the relationship idea like we discussed?"

Dante stared at the screen.

His thumb hovered over the keyboard, but no reply came.

For once, he had no idea what to say.