"And that's good! A healthy relationship is one where you want to be together! But the world isn't always so kind as to give us what we want. Each new day you spend with him gets you to know and understand him better. You don't know everything there is to know about Kokonoe Tōkan and he doesn't know everything there is to know about Yamada Inori. And the best world is one where you both love everything new you learn and always want to be together, but there's still a chance.

"So maybe the reason you're waiting is that you want to wait. That there's a part of you that noticed that this could still go wrong."

"...I promised myself that I would never give up on your father's happiness," says Harutsugu, "and that I would do my best to be your father's happiness. And I got it. So you shouldn't give up on your love. But not deciding right now about the rest of forever isn't giving up."

"...'kay. Thank you." He hops off his stool and sidles off. Then sticks his head back into the kitchen to say, "And call me when the pie's ready," before running back upstairs.

Kuroji walks around the counter and smiles at his husband. "Want any help?" but Harutsugu looks down at him and hugs him and starts bawling.

"I DON'T WANT MY BABY TO GROW UP! I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR THIS!!!! 😭"

Later that afternoon Inori's waiting for him again by his school's gate. "Oh, hey, Inori-kun. Didn't expect you'd show up today."

"Hey. And hi, uh... Satoru."

"Subaru," he sighs, but there's a small smile playing on his lips. "Guess I'll let you two have your couples' fun. See you tomorrow, Tōkan."

"'Sup?"

"Take me on a date."

"...right now? Alright. Where?"

"Dunno. Somewhere with food."

"Alright." He's got an idea, so he starts walking, grabbing Inori's free hand as he goes. "Any reason?"

"Yeah."

...he's honestly not sure what he'd been expecting.

"So, uh, how's your studying going?"

He grimaces. "It's not."

"You... think you're okay for finals?"

"Nah."

"...you see the tension between those answers?"

"No."

"Now you're just being contrarian."

"No."

He pulls Inori in close and kisses him on the cheek.

Inori pulls away immediately, covering that cheek with a hand and glaring at him.

"If you don't want me to be sweet at you in public you need to stop being adorable in public."