The night breeze was softer now, brushing through the emptying festival grounds as flickering lights buzzed above. Somewhere in the distance, fireworks crackled, but Kant barely noticed. He went back to the locker room, sat on the bench, his blue-and-white brigade jacket stained with dust, face pale and quiet.
He didn't hear her footsteps until she was right in front of him.
"There you are," Marin said gently, crouching beside him. "You missed the final parade lap. Everyone thought you'd gone home."
Kant didn't reply.
She didn't push. Instead, she sat beside him, hugging her knees, letting the silence rest for a moment.
Then she glanced sideways at him. "You saw him, didn't you?"
He didn't need to say the name.
Kant gave a faint nod. "We talked. If you can even call that… talking."
Marin waited.
"I told him I didn't need his stuff anymore," Kant continued, his voice low. "I threw them at him like they didn't mean anything." He laughed dryly. "But they did. They still do."
Marin reached out, brushing his sleeve. "Did he say anything?"
Kant turned to her, eyes red, the pain clear even through the shadows. "Yeah. He said I never chose him. That I kept him hidden. That I was always too scared."
Marin didn't disagree. She didn't need to.
"I didn't mean to hurt him," Kant said softly. "I just… I didn't know how to be both things. The one everyone expected me to be, and the boyfriend he needed."
Silence.
Then Marin exhaled and smiled gently." I saw him too way earlier than you had but I didn't want to tell you because I was only worried it would open up old wounds."
Kant looked at her. "You did?"
Marin nodded. "Yeah. I was certain you both would still run into each other anyways and it was best to not get involved in things like this knowing well how much you were still hurting".
"I know you might think I'm a big coward too". Kant said.
"No way. You're my brother and you deserve to be happy and true to yourself. Even if I didn't know about your sexuality, I'd still love you exactly the same," she added. "You did tell me, and I promised I wouldn't say a word — not because you made me promise, but because I get it."
Kant looked down, voice cracking. "I'm just tired, Rin. Tired of feeling like I'm split in two all the time."
Marin leaned her head on his shoulder. "Then don't split anymore. Be whole. You don't have to come out until you're ready. But don't keep hurting yourself to fit into a mold someone else made."
Kant was quiet again. His heart felt like it had softened just a bit — like something heavy had been lifted for the first time in weeks.
"I miss him," he whispered.
"I know," she said. "Maybe you both still miss each other. But even if it's over, it doesn't mean it wasn't real. Or worth it."
Kant nodded slowly.
She gave his shoulder a playful nudge. "Now dry those tears. You can't keep on being the tragic ex-boyfriend forever. You're the town's golden boy, remember?. "
He gave a tired smile. "Yeah right"
They both smiled at each other and stay put in the heavy silence and the slow pacing of each other's breath.