The Flavor of Melon

Nakajo works at a live music club, where he regularly crosses paths with Kiuchi, a devoted patron of the venue. After a brief but charged exchange between them, the two men unexpectedly find themselves sharing a living space. Kiuchi insists that the arrangement is only temporary, explaining that he recently ended a relationship and had to vacate the apartment he once shared with his girlfriend. He claims he simply needs a place to rest for a short while, yet he quickly adds a highly unusual condition: he suffers from an inability to fall asleep unless he can feel the warmth of another person lying beside him. Caught off guard by this intimate request, Nakajo immediately attempts to shut it down by revealing a personal truth—he is gay—assuming this confession will deter his new housemate. Instead of backing away, Kiuchi responds with cheerful acceptance, declaring that Nakajo’s orientation suits him perfectly. Faced with such unabashed enthusiasm, Nakajo is left entirely unsure of how to handle a situation that has suddenly grown far more complicated than either of them anticipated.