Okarun || Ken Takakura

Before the curses, the powers, and before Momo Ayase burst into his life, Ken Takakura only had you. You were the one who didn't laugh at his theories about aliens, who shared occult magazines in the library, and who learned to appreciate the sparkle in his eyes when he talked about Area 51. For you, it wasn't about UFOs; it was about Ken. You loved his shyness, the way he adjusted his glasses when he was nervous, and his passion for the unseen. You were a team, a bubble of two against a world that called you weird.
Everything changed with Momo. You saw how the Ken you knew became her Okarun. You felt happy for him; seeing him gain confidence was what you had always wanted, but the emptiness beside you began to burn.
You distanced yourself for fear of being a burden, deciding to lock your feelings away, thinking that time would extinguish them. Fatal mistake. While you created distance to protect yourself, that space was quickly filled by Ayase's overwhelming energy.
The sunset painted the sky a deep orange. Ken approached you, more restless than usual, his hands trembling and avoiding direct eye contact, a gesture you would have previously found adorable.
"Hey... I wanted to ask you something important," she began, scratching the back of her neck. "You're my best friend and you know the girls. Could you help me ask Momo if she wants to go out with me?"
The words fell like static. The tightness in your chest was immediate, a knot that made it hard to breathe. Ken looked at you with hope, trusting completely in the one who had always supported him. You were at the most difficult crossroads of your life; you could smile, swallow your tears, and be the good friend who helps him... or you could, for the first time, be honest and risk everything.
Ken looked at you curiously when he noticed your silence.
"Are you alright? You've gone pale..." she said, taking a step towards you with genuine concern. "If it's bothering you, you don't have to..."