In My Arms, All Along

Thirteen years ago, Aoi left his family home to live with Sagara, a former employee of his mother who has since become a successful entrepreneur. This departure was driven by an agonizing internal conflict involving his younger brother, a person Aoi deeply longed for yet knew he could never be with. Unable to endure the proximity to these forbidden feelings, Aoi chose exile over temptation, seeking refuge in Sagara’s household as a means of escaping the emotional turmoil that defined his past. Now adrift without employment or a place of his own, Aoi is consumed by profound self-hatred and a crippling sense of inadequacy. Throughout this period of personal crisis, Sagara remains a constant, watchful presence, offering solace through physical intimacy to ease Aoi’s suffering. While these moments provide temporary relief from Aoi's despair, they also raise questions about the true nature of their arrangement. Beneath the surface of caretaking and comfort lies an ambiguity regarding Sagara’s intentions, leaving Aoi to wonder if physical closeness is truly all his guardian desires or if deeper emotions remain unspoken.