"Can I call you Kouhei-kun from now on?" Kazuhiro asked, his voice steady as his sharp eyes locked onto him.
For a moment, Kouhei braced himself against that piercing gaze. Earlier, it had carried a suffocating aura that felt like it could crush him on the spot, but now… it was different. The intensity was still there, lingering like a shadow, but it had softened. It no longer felt like a blade pressed against his throat. Instead, there was something strangely gentle hidden within it—something almost warm.
"Sure," Kouhei answered, his tone calm yet respectful.
"You can address me casually as well. I don't mind at all," Kazuhiro replied, leaning back slightly.
Kouhei hesitated. Deep down, it felt a little unnatural to call someone like Kazuhiro casually. The man's presence alone carried too much weight, like a towering wall that couldn't be ignored. Still, Kouhei wasn't about to reject such an offer. Accepting it was the best he could do.
