-Takamiya's POV-

Takamiya pulled out a torn piece of hotel note paper and confirmed the apartment number with the digits before him once more. He then placed the note back into his back pocket and rap on the door again. He had knocked on the beige door three times already but there was no response. Unfortunately there was no residential name tag in the placeholder by the door to indicate the current resident.

For a second there he was afraid that perhaps Sakashita-san may have caught on to the ruse and had given Naoya a false address so that she could continue to safeguard her son. Until that is, he heard the locks unclick from the other side. His heartbeat instantly doubled within his ribcage and his palms began to sweat. This is it, he thought.

Takamiya had rehearsed what he'd wanted to say on the long drive to this address. He had even pictured the different scenarios that might occur, including the possibility if Izumi wasn't there, he would remain and do a stakeout. He was prepared for Izumi's scathing anger and harsh words, even his physical attacks; however Takamiya wasn't prepared for the scenario that happened.

The door opened to reveal a handsome young man with shaggy light brown hair that looked to be broader chest and slightly taller than Takamiya. His brow creased in confusion upon seeing this stranger in place of his Izumi.

"Can I help you?" The man inquired.

Remembering his manners, Takamiya cleared his throat and bow his head in greeting, "Pardon me for intruding your privacy at such a late hour. My name is Takamiya Katsura and I am looking for someone. I was informed that Sakashita Izumi lives here?"

The man quirked up a brow as if puzzled, then suddenly recognition lit his eyes and he takes a long look at Takamiya as if sizing him up. He folds his arms together in front of him and nonchalantly leans against the siding of the entrance and replies wryly, "Yes he does."

Ignoring the man's rudeness in disregarding the polite social greetings, Takamiya released a breath he didn't know he was holding and sigh in relief. Elated by this confirmation, Takamiya inquired excitedly, "Is he home? May I speak to him?"

The other turns his head slightly back to look at the interior for a brief moment before he turns back to face Takamiya and a sneer curves the man's lip up a corner.

He didn't know for what reason this behavior stemmed from, but the translator did not like the challenging aura emanating from the young man at all. Takamiya especially did not like what the man seem to insinuate next.

"He's… indisposed at the moment. We… had a long night."

A sinking feeling tugged at Takamiya's entrails upon the fellow's words. This was all too surreal. His anxiety grew the more he stood there. Knowing that his Izumi was within reach and that this man he's never seen before was blocking his way, Takamiya's polite façade broke away. He frantically brushed pass the man and charged into the room, stopping abruptly as his eyes rounded in shock. The translator was arrested by the scene presented before him.

There he saw his Izumi in this dimly lit studio apartment, sleeping with his chest bare and lying beneath tousled sheets. His clothes were thrown haphazardly on the floor; Izumi was obviously naked. But what confirmed Takamiya's worst fears even further was plastered on his Izumi's face: the contented smile of a lover well satisfied glowed from his tinted cheeks. Takamiya was intimately familiar with this expression, for only a lover could have wrought this from him.

"…He has finally learned to move on."

Sakashita-san's words had haunted him earlier on and had been at the back of his mind the entire day. He wanted to laugh at the bitter irony of the outcome, but he couldn't. There was nothing to laugh about. He'd seen for himself the piercing evidence of her words.

He wanted so badly to run towards Izumi and shake him awake, to ask his lover to deny the undeniable truth. He almost did as he took a step forward, but the person behind him spoke up.

"The poor boy is tired out. You can leave me your contact information and I'll be sure to let Izumi-kun know that you stopped by when he wakes up in the morning."

Takamiya closed his eyes tightly to shunt the onslaught of emotions bursting to come forth at the man's words. He'd almost forgotten about this man, who obviously must be Izumi's new lover. His fists tauten beside him upon this recognition.

I've truly lost him, Takamiya lamented inwardly. No amount of denial was going to change this. His brain had accepted the truth but his heart refused to accept.

I have to try, he thought desperately. If I can just only talk to him…

Wild in his resolve, Takamiya reopened his eyes and turned around to face his adversary. His piercing brown eyes gleamed from tears unshed and began his examination of the man before him most thoroughly. The disheveled form showed a hidden strength that was only revealed by the thinly suppressed challenge in the man's eyes. Takamiya met those eyes with his own challenge.

Their dueling gaze lasted for only a brief moment when the man's eyes and demeanor suddenly changed to show his amusement instead. The man even had the audacity to flash him a wry grin.

Confused by the man's actions, Takamiya watched him warily. But his rival merely said, "Well?"

Takamiya found himself quickly annoyed by this man's behavior. And to his dismay, the translator couldn't do anything about it. In all appearance, this was a congenial visit of a friend. He couldn't verily make a scene and disturb the peaceful night for the other residence of this compound. Besides, Izumi was sleeping soundly. Takamiya did not want to reunite with him in such a situation.

Defeated even by his own logic, Takamiya closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh. He reopened them and began digging in his jacket pocket for the business card of the hotel he's staying at. Next, he fished in his other pocket for a pen and wrote the room and phone number down on the back of the card. Takamiya then walked over to the fellow, handed him the card and left without another word.