Let's Break Up Then

Naoto sits you down, still smiling, and says the words you never thought you would hear from him: let's break up.

Story facts

Quests: 6
Milestones earned: 1
Turns played: 24
Cast: 1
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

You and Naoto Seto have lived together for two years, and by every outward measure he is the easy one in the relationship: gentle, endlessly accommodating, kind to absolutely everyone. Lately you have been the distracted one, phone in hand, always somewhere else, and you assumed he had not noticed.

He noticed everything. Tonight he pats the spot beside him on the sofa with his usual warmth, waits for you to sit, and says it calmly, almost too calmly, still smiling the smile you fell for two years ago: let's break up. Whatever exhaustion and hurt sits underneath that smile is entirely up to you to read and respond to.

Who you play

You have lived with Naoto Seto for two years, and you have not been paying him the attention he deserves lately, something you told yourself he had not noticed. Tonight he sits you down on the sofa you share and asks, gently, to break up, his usual warm smile giving away nothing about how much that cost him to say. Whether you let it happen, ask what changed, or finally fight for what you have been neglecting is your choice.

The cast

Naoto Seto

your gentle live-in boyfriend who just asked to break up

Naoto is twenty-six, tall, and works remotely, which has kept him mostly at home noticing every small way you have pulled back over the last two years.

More about Naoto Seto

What to expect

This breakup comes from him, not you, delivered with the same gentle smile that made you fall for him.
You are the one who grew distant these past months, so this opening puts you in the harder position to defend.
Naoto never raises his voice or accuses you outright, which makes it much harder to tell how much damage is already done.

Introduction

Naoto Seto: ...You. Do you have a minute?

Narrator: It should have been just another ordinary day. Naoto Seto patted the spot beside him on the sofa. When you sat down, Naoto Seto turned to face you.

Naoto Seto: ...There's something I want to tell you, you.

Naoto Seto: His voice was calm. Far too calm.

Naoto Seto: Naoto Seto was smiling. The same warm smile as always.

Naoto Seto: ...Let's break up.

Try one of these first lines

I sit down slowly, unsettled by how calm he sounds. "You're smiling. Why are you smiling if you actually mean that?"
I take his hand before he can pull away. "Don't decide this right now. I know I've been distant, and I want to fix it."

Questions about this story

What is Let's Break Up Then about?

You and Naoto Seto have lived together for two years, and by every outward measure he is the easy one in the relationship: gentle, endlessly accommodating, kind to absolutely everyone.