I Can't Call Your Name

This was the second slap Kaito had endured, and his misfortune now sat in his chest like a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.

Without a word, he stood up, his expression troubled, and muttered in a low voice, "I need some fresh air," he said while leaving.

He paced aimlessly on the sidewalk across from the house, his mind clouded with frustration and guilt.

Every now and then, his eyes darted toward Misaki's window, hoping to see if the lights were out, signaling she'd gone to bed.

Worn out from walking, he slumped down on the curb, resting his arms on his knees.

As the stillness of the night surrounded him, his composure faltered, and he let the tears he had been holding back fall silently.

At that moment Naomi notices Kaito while looking out the window of a car driven by a young man.

"Kaito-kun?" she murmured, her voice filled with unease.

The car came to a halt a short distance away, and Naomi stepped out, swaying slightly as the vehicle drove off into the night.

She settled beside him on the curb, the faint scent of alcohol drifting in the air. She remained silent, waiting for him to break the stillness.

Noticing her presence, Kaito hastily wiped his tears with his sleeve and straightened up, trying to look more composed.

Without a word, Naomi placed a hand gently on his shoulder and pulled him into a soft, reassuring hug.

"I mean, I don't usually get involved in couples' arguments," she teased.

Then, leaning slightly closer, she added, "But seriously, what happened between you two?"

Kaito shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "It's... nothing important."

Naomi raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Ah, yes. Nothing like a good cry under the stars to enjoy that refreshing night breeze, right?"

Sniffling softly, he muttered, "It's always the same—just me and this cursed string of misfortunes."

She started with a teasing tone but quickly realized the situation was more serious than it appeared.

In a gentle voice, she asked, "Alright, honey, can you be more specific?"

"She thinks I'm... a pervert."

Naomi couldn't contain herself. Despite her best efforts to hold it in, she suddenly burst into laughter, her voice echoing through the empty street.

"Ahahaha!"

Kaito had expected this reaction and, feeling a bit embarrassed, waited for her loud laughter to subside.

"This isn't funny!"

"No, it's funny," Naomi said, barely holding back a smirk. "You're by far the least likely person to be a pervert among all the men I've ever met."

Kaito looked at her in surprise. This time, she wasn't joking. Her serious tone made him feel a little more at ease.

Naomi, trying to dig deeper into the conversation, asked, "Alright then, what did you do to deserve such an unfair accusation?"

Kaito, feeling tense and embarrassed, spoke with a guilty tone. He tried to choose his words carefully but still stammered.

"Uh… well… it's just… this has happened a few times now."

"A few times?!" Naomi repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but they were all just bad luck! Really, I didn't do anything wrong!" he said, his voice filled with nervousness.

"Alright, calm down. I believe you," Naomi said softly, her tone steady. "Just go on."

"Most recently… this night," he began, struggling to find the right words.

"I was cleaning and putting the dirty laundry in the washing machine. When I saw hers, I froze for a second. We hadn't discussed this kind of thing before, but it was my turn to chores. She walked in right when I was holding her clothes, and—"

Naomi interrupted, already piecing the situation together. "As expected, she thought you were a pervert."

"Yeah," he admitted, looking away with a guilty expression.

"The other times were also just a series of unlucky situations like this…"

"You have to understand her. She's going through a tough time, and she's living with a guy she barely knows."

"Yeah, I get that much," Kaito replied, frustration creeping into his voice. "But being accused like this all the time…"

Naomi gently patted his head. She hesitated for a moment, then continued.

"Okay, I'm not sure if it's right for me to say this, but I feel like I have to."

Kaito looked at her curiously, waiting for what she would say next.

"Misaki-chan's parents recently got divorced. Her father, that scumbag, cheated on her mother with his secretary."

Kaito listened intently, his face hardening with anger. Seeing his reaction, Naomi's voice grew firmer as she continued.

"She was really close to her father. So much so that her mother sometimes got jealous of their bond. For someone she loved and trusted that much to betray her like that… it broke her."

"That explains a lot…"

"Exactly. The problem isn't you being you," Naomi said firmly.

"It's you being a man. To her, all men are now untrustworthy and despicable."

Kaito's anger at Misaki's father suddenly turned inward. He muttered, "Damn it. Looking back at everything, all I've done is prove her right."

"Even if you didn't do anything, honey, she already believes she's right." Naomi added with a faint smile, "To be honest, when I think about all the men I've known, Misaki is 90% right. Maybe even 99%."

Kaito shot her a tense glare, but she smiled wider. "You're the 1%, though—the rare species who are almost extinct."

Naomi hesitated again, caught in a dilemma about whether to share another secret. Then, with a determined look, she grabbed Kaito by the shoulder and stared into his eyes.

"You know," she said firmly, "this is exactly why I wanted you two to live together."

Kaito's confused expression silently asked for an explanation.

Naomi continued, "You're going to show her that there are still men in this world who can be trusted and loved."

Kaito frowned deeply, as if a burden far too heavy had just been placed on him.

"Me?! Anyone you picked off the street could've done better than I have so far," he said, his voice trembling with self-loathing.

"You're right. Maybe things didn't start off well. But I've known you for a year, and you haven't changed a bit. Just keep being yourself. Sooner or later, she'll have no choice but to see the truth right in front of her."

Kaito wanted to believe Naomi's words, even if just for a moment. His tone softened as he looked at her, his eyes filled with a flicker of hope.

"You know, the other day, I saw her smile for the first time."

Naomi gave him a meaningful look, as if she'd seen a truth that even Kaito himself was hesitant to admit.

Encouraged by his own enthusiasm, he continued, "It was the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. By far, the best one."

He shifted his gaze to the distance, his tone turning somber.

"That day, I understood why you want to make her laugh. Someone who smiles like that should smile all the time."

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he picked up a stick and began drawing circles in the dirt.

Avoiding Naomi's eyes, he added, "That moment, I wished I could always make her laugh like that. I wanted to be the person who can do that."

"Then be that person," Naomi said, her tone firm. She slapped him hard on the back, snapping him out of his worries.

"Get a grip. Life isn't lived with 'I wish' or 'what if.' One day, you'll look back, and all you'll have left is regret if you don't act."

Kaito listened intently, her words resonating deeply. There was a determined look on his face, though uncertainty still lingered in his expression.

Naomi continued, "Starting tomorrow, do something—anything—that gets you closer to being the man you want to be. Even the smallest steps... Just do it before it's too late."

Her words hit him hard, stirring something deep within him. For the first time in a while, he believed—or at least wanted to believe—that tomorrow could be fine. The uncertainty in his face gave way to a clear determination.

After finishing her words, Naomi's gaze shifted toward Misaki's room. She stood up and extended a hand toward Kaito.

"Come on, help this young lady get back home!"

Kaito hesitated for a second before taking her hand. Her grip was steady, and with her help, he got to his feet.

Naomi wobbled slightly as they walked, but she managed to keep her balance. When they reached the café a few blocks away, she stopped and turned to him.

"This is my stop. Get some rest, alright?" she said, patting him lightly on the shoulder before heading inside.

Kaito lingered briefly, watching Naomi vanish into the café. With a heavy sigh, he turned and walked home, his steps dragging.

Slipping inside quietly, he headed straight to the couch and lay down without hesitation. As he closed his eyes, he clung to the hope that tomorrow might bring a fresh start.