Book excerpt: Local shop owner Shuji Tanihara and neighborhood pediatrician Takafumi Saji are in a relationship, and what began as a mere fling has turned into love. Little by little, Shuji has grown accustomed to the relationship, but he can’t quite gauge how much he can open up to Takafumi, which troubles him. What will the future hold for these two men as they reach an important turning point in their lives?