Oni wa Warau ka Manhua

Title: The Laughing Demon As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the school grounds, Hoshitani found himself once again walking down the familiar path towards the gym storeroom. The memory of that fateful day still lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the secrets he held close. Pushing open the creaky door, Hoshitani's heart raced as he stepped into the dimly lit room. There, amidst the rows of equipment, stood Kashiwase, his back turned towards Hoshitani. Without a word, he slowly turned around, his eyes meeting Hoshitani's with a mix of surprise and resignation. "I knew you'd come," Kashiwase's voice was barely a whisper, but it echoed loudly in the silence of the room. Hoshitani felt a knot form in his stomach, his hands trembling at the weight of unspoken truths between them. With a deep breath, Kashiwase took a step forward, closing the distance between them. In that moment, Hoshitani saw beyond the facade of the laughing demon, glimpsing the vulnerability that lay hidden beneath. "I'm sorry," Kashiwase's voice wavered, a hint of pain flickering in his eyes. "I never meant to drag you into this." Before Hoshitani could respond, Kashiwase reached out, his fingers brushing against Hoshitani's cheek in a gentle caress. It was a gesture filled with longing, a silent plea for understanding and acceptance. In that instant, Hoshitani realized that their bond was more than just a fleeting moment of connection. It was a lifeline in a world that sought to tear them apart, a beacon of light in the shadows of their hidden desires. And as they stood there, two souls entwined in a delicate dance of love and pain, Hoshitani knew that their laughter, though masked in darkness, would echo through the corridors of their hearts for eternity.