Why Do the Itoshi Brothers Keep Trying to Get Me to Smile in Public?

The three of you walked along a secluded forest path near campus, the crunch of leaves underfoot and the soft rustle of trees filling the silence. It was a rare, tranquil moment in the midst of your usually chaotic days. Rin was on your left, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, while Sae walked on your right, his pace measured and composed.

You'd agreed to this walk on a whim, not thinking much of it, but now the atmosphere felt heavy—charged with something unspoken.

"So..." Rin began, his voice low and hesitant.

You turned to look at him, your curiosity piqued. He kept his gaze fixed firmly ahead, his lips pressed into a tight line.

"Rin?" you prompted gently.

"I—" He cut himself off, scowling. His shoulders tensed, and he let out a frustrated sigh. "This is harder than I thought."

Sae chuckled softly, drawing your attention. "What my eloquent little brother is trying to say is that we have something important to talk to you about."

Rin shot him a glare but didn't argue.

Your heart quickened. "Okay... I'm listening."

There was a pause before Sae continued, his voice steady but tinged with an unfamiliar vulnerability. "We've been thinking a lot about this. About you. And us."

Rin cleared his throat, his words tumbling out in a rush. "We both like you. A lot. And it's driving us crazy."

Your eyes widened. You opened your mouth to respond, but Sae gently held up a hand to stop you.

"We know it's complicated," he said, his tone calm but earnest. "We've spent years competing, always trying to one-up each other. But when it comes to you... we don't want to fight. Not about this."

Rin nodded, his cheeks faintly pink. "We both want to be with you. And we've talked about it, and..." He trailed off, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "We think... maybe we can make it work. Together."

Your breath caught. "Together?"

"A polyamorous relationship," Sae clarified. "If you're okay with it. If you want it."

Rin added quickly, "If you don't, that's fine too. We're not trying to pressure you or anything."

The sincerity in their words hit you like a wave. You looked between them, your mind racing. The idea was overwhelming, but what struck you most was their willingness to compromise—to put aside their rivalry, their pride, for your sake.

"I don't know what to say," you admitted softly.

Sae took a step closer, his eyes meeting yours with uncharacteristic tenderness. "Take your time. We just wanted you to know how we feel."

Rin nodded again, his awkwardness giving way to determination. "Yeah. No rush. We just... we had to tell you."

You looked down at your hands, your thoughts swirling. Part of you was hesitant—this wasn't exactly a conventional situation—but the way they looked at you, the way they'd set aside their differences for you... it was touching.

Finally, you looked up, meeting their gazes in turn. "I'll be honest... it's a little overwhelming. But... I care about both of you. And I think... I think I'm willing to try."

The relief on their faces was palpable.

Rin let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his lips twitching into a small, genuine smile. Sae's expression softened, a rare warmth breaking through his usual cool demeanor.

"Thank you," Sae said quietly.

Rin added, "We won't let you regret it. Promise."

As you continued walking, the tension in the air dissipated, replaced by a newfound sense of connection. The path ahead might not be easy, but for the first time, it felt like the three of you were truly walking it together.