Bad Decisions

It was summer break. He was alone in that one forest at the base of Mount Fuji; the one that was just a little too infamous for an action that no one dared to speak much about. He had thought about it, but he figured the feeling would pass. Still, he chose to go because he needed a change of scenery for the day. As long as he stayed on the designated path, it would be fine, he thought.

Niou Masaharu wasn't exactly sure why he felt compelled to make such a grim pilgrimage. There were thousands of signs by the entrance into the forest that warned him not to stray from the marked path. Beside those signs were even more that encouraged him to get help and to think of the ones that loved him. Still, he continued on his way in, wandering down the marked path until something caught his eye—a silver tent a bit of a way off from where he was standing. Naturally curious, he decided to head over. He had mentally braced himself for the worst, but he was pleasantly surprised to see that the tent occupant was still conscious.

"Oh!" the occupant exclaimed in surprise. "Who are you?"

"The Trickster," he answered as he tried to crack a small smile on his lips. "And you?"

"You're funny," she giggled. "I don't have a fancy nickname like you do, so just call me ."

"Oh? What a pretty name," Niou commented. "What's a pretty lady doing out here in these parts? You know this place has a reputation, right?"

"I'm not here for that reason," she rolled her eyes. "I just like camping here."

"Camping in such an infamous place? You sure you got your head screwed on right?"

"Yep!" was her eager response. "Come join me for a bit, Sir Trickster."

Niou couldn't help but be intrigued by this woman as he took a seat on the dirt ground near her.

"You seem troubled," she stated rather bluntly.

"What makes you say that?" he asked.

"Call it a sixth sense," she winked. "We're complete strangers, so it's not like what we talk about will matter once we part ways."

"Are you prepared to hear dark things?" Niou asked in his bone-chilling creepy voice, which only made giggle more.

"Believe me, whatever you have to say cannot be worse than what's already in my head."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Heavens, no. Just know that I'm quite resilient up here," she said as she tapped her forehead with her finger.

"I killed a man," Niou began. "My best friend, actually. I used a rock and bashed his skull right open."

The two strangers sat in silence—Niou waiting patiently to see 's response, and pondering the sudden confession.

"Do you not trust me, Sir Trickster?" she asked after the moment had passed.

"What makes you think that?" he responded in kind.

"You're lying to me. That's why."

"You don't believe I killed my best friend?"

"Nope!" she said with certainty.

"And how did you reach this conclusion?" he inquired.

"Murderers generally don't admit something like that nonchalantly," she explained.

Niou snorted. "Not every killer would admit they killed someone, you know."

"Well, no, but you most definitely did not kill your best friend," smirked.

"Fine, I admit I'm lying," he confessed. "Didn't murder him, but I kind of wish I did."

She tilted her head to her side, curious. "Why?"

He sighed. "Maybe then, he'd speak to me."

"Did you guys fight?"

He shook his head. "Grew apart after high school. The usual."

"Oh? Sorry to hear that."

Niou shrugged. "Not your fault. Mostly mine."

"Let me guess," began, "putting in the time and effort to reach out was exhausting and you felt like you were bothering him every time you did it?"

Niou's eyes widened in surprise. That was exactly what he was thinking. A sad smile appeared on 's lips.

"I can tell you that your friend does not see the situation in the same light as you do," she declared.

"How can you be so sure?" he accused her.

"Real friends never think of those actions as a bother. If anything, real friends are there for each other whenever they can be."

"Heh, you're making me sound like a bad friend now."

shrugged. "Not my intention."

Niou felt a nicotine craving creep up as he instinctively reached into his pocket and procured a crumpled, mostly empty carton of cigarettes and a lighter. He placed one in his mouth and was about to light it until he realized he wasn't alone.

"Ah, sorry. Forgot to ask," he apologized. "Do you mind?"

"Well, we're outside and there's no wind this deep into the canopy," she responded. "Whatever you do is your choice."

There was something about the way those words were delivered that made Niou spit the stick in between his lips out onto the ground. His craving was slowly dissipating as he put those items back into his pocket. looked at him, confused.

"I never said you couldn't smoke."

"Yeah, well... Don't feel like it anymore."

She chuckled. "You're quite amusing, Sir Trickster."

The conversation naturally died out, but Niou didn't feel pressured to leave. If anything, he wanted to stay where he was. Something drew him in. Perhaps it was how quiet it was. His mind wasn't racing at a million thoughts per second. The inner voice telling him that every action was futile didn't make a peep. The knot in his stomach that came from thinking about his endless list of responsibilities had untied itself.

hummed a soothing melody to herself as she started to set up a little fire pit. Niou found himself watching her set up the small amount of tinder and tiny twigs before lighting a match. When the mound became engulfed in flames, she started to add bigger pieces of wood to stoke it a little more until she was satisfied.

"Are you hungry?" she asked him.

"Oh, I can't eat your food," he declined. "You probably only brought enough for yourself."

"Guess again, Sir Trickster," she mocked. "I always bring enough for two—even if it's only me in the end."

That statement made him raise an eyebrow. "Why? Isn't that a waste?"

She shook her head. "A good meal warms the soul. I want to make sure that I have plenty to offer to anyone I come across—plus, I can always just take home the leftovers and I won't have to make lunch the next day."

"Heh, aren't you quite the prepared one?"

"I want to show people that there is kindness in the world," she began. "Maybe the hot meal I offer them is enough to warm their hearts and get them to change their minds."

"And if it doesn't?" he asked.

"Then, at least I was kind to them in their final moments," was her answer. "Surely, it must mean something."

A frown grew on his face. "You don't think that your kindness went to waste if that person doesn't live to see the next day?"

"Kindness can never be commoditized. That wouldn't be right," she stated. "But, above all, I hope that my action helps their soul find peace."

Niou wasn't sure how to continue this topic of conversation and just decided to keep his mouth shut. went on to prepare a cooking set up as she continued to hum a song. The melody sounded familiar, but the disheveled man couldn't quite remember where he had heard it before.

"So," began, breaking the silence, "what do you do on a daily, Sir Trickster?"

"You mean, like, in terms of a job?" he asked.

She nodded as she continued to tend to the flames. A pot with a block of mostly frozen soup sitting in the middle of it began to heat up and melt.

"I study math, I guess," he grumbled as he scratched his head.

"Math?" she parroted back. "I would've never guessed that. Where do you study?"

"Tokyo Tech."

"Really? You must be a long way from home, then."

"Well, my family's mostly out in Kanagawa, so it's not that far."

"Oh? Sorry, I was just assuming because of your accent. It's Shikoku, right?"

Niou's eyes widened in bewilderment. "Y-Yeah. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess?" she snorted. "Still, that seems pretty cool."

"Meh, it's not that great," he shrugged. "I just picked it 'cause I was good at it—not for any deeper reason."

"Oh? Surely, there must be more of a reason you picked it than just that."

"There's no deeper meaning to it, pretty lady," he chuckled. "It really was because I was good at it in high school. Degrees don't matter that much in this country anyway if your end goal is to just be a salaryman in a black company."

frowned slightly. "I think you could do much more than that, Sir Trickster. Math is the language of the universe, isn't it?"

"You can't speak math to someone. It's not a spoken language," he scoffed.

"That may be true, but I would think that a mathematician in Finland could understand the same proof as you could despite neither of you speaking the same language," she pointed out. "That's what makes math cool in my opinion."

"If you think it's so neat, why don't you give it a shot?" Niou asked.

"Oh, I could never," she shook her head. "My passions lie elsewhere."

For some reason, Niou didn't feel like he wanted to press the issue further. He closed his mouth and just stared off into the distance. The strangely familiar scent of his mother's cooking coupled with the silence of the forest made his head swirl around. He had almost fallen over if it were not for steadying him.

"You look pale," she fretted. "Are you anemic?"

"Bad with the heat," he shrugged. "Thanks."

"Here," she handed him a bowl full of hot cream stew, "you might feel better after eating this."

Niou accepted the food, but could feel his fingertips burning as he touched the sides. "Ow."

"Too hot for you to handle?" she laughed. "It's best served at scalding hot temperatures!"

Niou set it down on the little tree stump beside him, using it as a makeshift table. He picked up the plastic spoon in the bowl and brought some of the soup to his mouth. He instantly regretted putting it in, as he singed the roof and his tongue all in one go. And yet, despite the pain, it tasted almost exactly like his mother's own recipe. He was speechless. He continued to eat it until there was nothing left. There was a warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest—something he hadn't felt in such a long time.

"Someone's hungry," she smiled. "There's plenty more where that came from."

"You ain't a bad cook," he commented. "Tastes just like my mom's."

"I think that's a compliment, so thank you," she replied as she ladled out a second helping for him. "Even in the summer, there's nothing that warms the soul more than a hot bowl of soup."

"You think soup cures everything?"

"No, but it's pretty easy to stomach when you can't be bothered to eat."

Those same words sounded familiar to him, but he could not recall where he had heard them before either. The sky began to darken quickly as night fell onto the forest. Now, the only light that illuminated the area was the tiny fire crackling away. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but the woman he was with looked like she was glowing. It was slightly otherworldly.

"Something wrong?" she asked him.

"Ah, no," was his response. "Sorry. Just staring."

There was a mischievous grin on her face. "We've only just met. Maybe a name first before you decide to fall in love with me," she teased.

"Niou," he answered plainly, "Niou Masaharu."

"That's a nice name you picked for yourself," she complimented. "It's getting pretty dark and you seem tired."

Niou felt strangely bothered by her dismissive tone. He stretched his arms above his head as he got up.

"Time for a dirt nap," he snorted. He wasn't sure if he actually wanted to take one anymore.

had a very unamused look on her face. "You can't possibly be serious right now. You won't be able to find your way out of this forest without light."

"Maybe that's the goal, pretty lady," he smiled nonchalantly. "Besides, don't you know that sleeping with strange men around isn't exactly a good thing for a lady like yourself?"

"I think I am an excellent judge of character, and sexist generalizations are a bit too passé, don't you think?" was her retort. "I can't stop you, but if you change your mind, I have room for another."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good," he repeated as he started making his way into the thick of the night in the twisted sea of trees.

"Goodbye," he murmured under his breath without looking back.

He wasn't sure where he was going, but it was slightly unsettling for Niou to walk deeper and deeper into the darkness. He fumbled around with his hands to make sure he didn't walk right into a tree or bush. His phone was dead and the only light source he really had was the glow coming from the moon in between the dense foliage. Save for the snapping twigs beneath his feet, the place was silent. He normally enjoyed the feeling of emptiness, but there was something very unsettling about the atmosphere he found himself in at that moment.

"Fuck, it's freezing," he shivered as he tried to pull his thin jacket closer towards his body.

The feeling of regret started to sink in, but he didn't even know what direction he was facing anymore. There was no way for him to turn back and no markers to guide him to the main path of the forest. All he could do was press on and hope for something to happen. He was either going to die that night or something would save him.

He wasn't sure whether he was hallucinating, but he felt like he was able to "see" something warm within the distance. He gravitated towards the heat without much of a second thought. But the light he was staring at as his last sign of hope had faded into dust. It was pitch black and the only thing that remained was lingering heat from the dead embers. He sank to his knees, unable to compute the despair he was feeling. The last thing he remembered was closing his eyes, wondering if that was going to be the last time he ever did.

When Niou opened his eyes again and saw nothing but white, he really thought he was dead.

He laid there, trying to reorient himself and figure out what was going on. He turned his stiff neck around to see what else was around. He seemed to be in a room of sorts. There was a decrepit television in the corner, a lumpy-looking sofa by a window with its blinds closed, and a man with his head on the bed he was sleeping on. Niou moved his hand to poke the person, but he seemed to have sensed this and immediately bolted upward.

"Niou-kun!"

The silver-haired trickster instantly knew whose eyes he was looking into. The man leapt up and wrapped his arms around Niou's weak frame.

"Yagyuu..."

"You fool," he scolded. "Why on earth would you do something so..."

Niou wasn't sure what to say. He had to be dead, he thought. There was no way Yagyuu Hiroshi was right there.

Yagyuu's voice began to crack. "If it wasn't for that nurse who found you—"

"Why are you here, Yagyuu?" he asked point blank. "We haven't spoken in years."

"That is precisely why I am here, Niou-kun," he sighed. "If I just saw the signs and reached out, this wouldn't have happened..."

"Please do not be so hard on yourself, Yagyuu-san," another voice cut in. "Many who are untrained in this area wouldn't have been able to spot the signs either."

The two men turned in the direction of the door, where a lone nurse was making her way in.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Sir Trickster?" she greeted him.

Niou couldn't believe what he was seeing. "You...!"

"Do not be so rude, Niou-kun," Yagyuu scolded him. "Nurse was the one who found you."

"Oh, that's alright," she brushed off. "Please do feel free to stay as long as you would like, Yagyuu-san."

"You are very kind, but I must be off, unfortunately. There are matters that I need to attend to," he frowned. "I will be back later. Please try not to do something reckless while I am gone, Niou-kun."

The silver-haired swindler could only watch in silence as his old friend left the room, leaving him alone with the woman he met in that forest. looked at him with pity, yet empathy.

"You like him, don't you?" she asked.

"...Is it that obvious?" was his response.

"Like an open book. Was that the reason why you grew apart?"

He sighed. "Kinda. Sorta. Maybe."

"Let me guess—you didn't want him to look at you weirdly if you ever confessed but that fear drove a wedge between you two instead?"

"Are you a nurse or a shrink?" he asked, mildly offended.

"Both, actually." She moved over to grab a clipboard with his charts on it and started to scribble down some notes. "There's still a good 40 hours until your involuntary psych hold is up. I wouldn't suggest trying anything funny or the doctor might admit you for longer."

"You're not leaving me with much of a choice," he snorted. "Is that it? I just have to be a good boy for two more days and you'll let me go? Just like that?"

"Is there something wrong, Sir Trickster?"

"No, just..." Niou paused, trying to think about what he wanted to say next.

"Expecting more?" she asked, trying to finish off his train of thoughts.

"I think so?" was his confused rebuttal. "Pardon my cynicism."

"If you want a referral to a more certified shrink, I'd be happy to speak with the doctor about it and get them to write you a referral," she suggested.

"Maybe..." HIs voice began to trail.

"Well, if you need anything, please feel free to use the 'call' button by your head," reminded him. "I have others to attend to, so if you'll excuse me."

Yagyuu came back a while later, carrying a canvas bag filled to the brim with foods that Niou had once loved. The sick man in bed wasn't sure how to process it all.

"I got permission from the doctor to bring these," he started as he pulled items out of the bag and placed them on the bedside table. "You haven't been eating enough, have you?"

"I'm a PhD student, Yagyuu," Niou scoffed. "Money isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you hear those words."

The bespectacled man sighed as he pushed his glasses up his face so that he could rub his eyes. "Even at a time like this, you joke around..."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Yagyuu?"

"You really scared me, Niou-kun," he said, voice somewhat trembling. "I know we drifted apart from each other over the years, but that does not mean I do not care about you."

"Oh yeah? Well, it wasn't like it was entirely your fault," Niou brushed off. "Life just gets in the way."

"You can tell me anything you want to, Niou-kun," Yagyuu reiterated. "We are friends."

Niou took that as a challenge. "Okay, if you wanna test our friendship now, then—"

"I am serious," he said.

"What would you do if I said I loved you?" he asked seriously.

Yagyuu looked at his friend in silence. It was an uncomfortable few minutes before he sighed and took a seat on the stool that was conveniently placed by Niou's bedside.

"Like all of your other joke confessions, I would laugh and play along with it," he answered.

"And if I wasn't joking?"

"I would politely reject your feelings. As you already know, I am not gay."

"I know," he smiled sadly as he sank back down into his bed. "That's why I never said anything."

"Niou-kun?"

"I'm serious," he replied. "I always was."

Silence filled the room once again, save for the faint beeps and whirrs from the machines. Yagyuu didn't know what to do with this information. Niou continued to stare at his friend, waiting for an answer of some kind.

"Just give me an answer, Yagyuu," he pleaded. "Just reject me so I can move on with my life."

Yagyuu gingerly placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Niou-kun... What do you want me to say?"

"C'mon, I've seen you reject girls before," Niou chided him. "It's the same thing, only it's me this time."

"But you know my answer already."

"Hiroshi—"

"Niou-kun, I do like and care about you as a friend," he began, "but only as a friend. I am physically incapable of ever reciprocating your feelings the way you'd want me to."

A small grin formed on Niou's chapped lips and he tried to hold back his own emotions.

"Damn, I knew it was coming and still..."

Yagyuu inched closer and wrapped his arms around Niou's bone-thin frame. Niou could feel the slight tremors in his embrace as he stiffened up.

"You do not need to feel ashamed for feeling the way you do, but please... Please don't do something so stupid ever again," he pleaded.

Niou hesitated to reach his arms up to return the gesture.

"I won't."

Once the last of his 72 hours had passed, Niou was finally a free man. Though he didn't feel any different, he was slightly relieved to be given some of his freedom back. After all of the discharge papers were signed, he sat around in the hospital lobby area as he waited for Yagyuu to show up. noticed him on her way into the building and went over to sit beside him.

"Look who's finally free," she joked. "Where are you off to?"

"Waiting for the dude with glasses to show up," he said. "He won't let me go back alone."

"How sweet of him. I'm guessing things worked out between you two?" she asked.

"Yeah," he shrugged. "He rejected me."

"Ouch. Sorry to hear, Sir Trickster."

"Meh, I can move on now," he smirked. "Only if you're available, that is."

"My, you sure move on rather quickly," she laughed. "Unfortunately, I'm just about to start my shift."

"Well, can't say I tried," he shrugged.

"I never said I wouldn't consider it," she mused. "Though, you should reconsider getting into a rebound relationship, Sir Trickster. It won't do you any good."

"Yeah, I suppose," he rolled his eyes. "God, do you always have to be right? It's infuriating."

"Just don't be wrong," she teased. "By the way, I spoke with the doctor and they got you that referral. The paperwork has been forwarded to your GP, so you'll just need to go talk with them for it."

"Oh? Thanks for going through the trouble."

"It's my job, you silly patient," she laughed. "You sure are an interesting one, Sir Trickster."

"Care to learn more about me, then?" he taunted. "We should swap numbers."

"I did promise you that, didn't I?" she smiled as she took out a small notepad and pen. "Very well, I'll give it to you, but don't expect an answer until I'm off."

"We'll see about that."

Their conversation ended just as Yagyuu entered the hospital. Following him was another woman, who managed to spot out the man they were looking for in the lobby that was quickly filling up with people.

"There you are," Yagyuu sighed with relief. "Are you ready to go, Niou-kun?"

"Damn, Hiroshi, you rejected me less than two days ago and now you're bringing your girlfriend around to rub salt into my fresh, open wound? You really are cruel," Niou fake-cried.

The tinted lenses on his glasses hid the eye roll he was doing. The woman beside him couldn't help but laugh.

"If you behave, I'll break up with Hiroshi-kun and he can be yours," she joked.

A faint blush formed on Yagyuu's cheeks. "H-hey!"

"You know I'm only joking, dear," she snorted. "Let's get you back home, okay?"

"Whatever you say, pretty lady," he brushed off as he got up. "See you later, other pretty lady."

giggled as she waved back. "Hopefully, not back here again."

A week had passed since the incident and Niou had been taking life rather slowly. Yagyuu insisted that his troubled friend stay with him, but Niou got annoyed and envious seeing him and his girlfriend act all romantic. Though everyone was worried about him, Niou decided to leave and head back to his cold apartment near campus. Even though he mostly lived alone on account of his roommate never being there, Yanagi somehow weaseled his way into Niou's abode before he managed to unlock the door.

"Sick of Yagyuu already?"

"I know better than to ask how," Niou groaned. "Yeah, I'm fucking sick of his shit."

"You lasted a lot longer than I calculated. I've been here for a day already."

"What can I say? Free food is free food and I am a leech."

Yanagi's mild playfulness dulled as his expression darkened. "But, really. Niou, I know you do unfathomable things, but—"

"Can it, Professor," he interjected before Yanagi could finish that thought. "You're all very kind for trying to see if I'm fine, but lay off."

"Still, you shouldn't be alone right now," Yanagi said. "Marui won't be back for another two days—"

"I'll be fine," he reassured between gritted teeth. "You guys aren't my only friends and I'm used to that bubblegum bitch being gone."

"It feels like none of us are your friends as of late," was Yanagi's blunt comment.

"Seriously, dude," he snapped. "Get out."

Yanagi let out a defeated sigh as he made his way to the front door. "I'll be back later, then."

"Don't," he hissed. "Just fuck off and tell Yukimura and 'em to lay off."

Niou slammed the door in his former teammate's face before throwing his body into the lumpy couch in the living room. Being alone felt confusing to him, but he finally felt like he could think clearly for once. Unfortunately, the silence also brought a sense of anxiety, as Niou wasn't sure what to do to occupy his time and keep the nagging voice in the back of his head from speaking.

"What a pain in the ass," he sighed. "Why can't anyone talk about anything other than that...?"

He took his phone out of his pocket and started to aimlessly scroll through his contacts. He wanted to talk to someone who wouldn't bring up what happened. His friend circle over the years had dwindled down to almost single digits—all of which he didn't want to see at the moment. Just as he was about to give up, his eyes fixated on the number he got from that nurse he ran into.

"Fuck it, what do I have to lose?"

He dialed her up, not really expecting an answer, but he was surprised to hear her pick up.

"It's ," she answered.

"Yo," he replied. "Been a bit, huh?"

"Ah, Sir Trickster," she realized. "Took you long enough to call. What are you up to?"

"Absolutely nothing. You?"

"I just got called in to work the graveyard shift again. Looking to eat something that will make me temporarily happy and take my mind off of being forced to go into work tonight."

"Oh? How about grabbing a bite with me?" he suggested. "My treat."

"Well, if you're offering, how could I refuse?" she joked. "I want yakiniku."

"Ah, a woman of culture, I see."

"I'll send you the address. Let's meet up in about an hour?"

"Sure thing, pretty lady."

After receiving the message with the location, Niou rummaged through his barren closet for a shirt that wasn't heavily wrinkled or had an offensive odour to it. He felt the need to at least make an effort to not look terrible.

was already waiting for him by the time he strolled up. For some reason, she seemed shell-shocked when their eyes met.

"You okay?" Niou asked.

"I didn't think you'd come," she admitted. "Hope you're ready to lose."

"At eating grilled meat? You're on, pretty lady."

After the two made their way in and were seated, Niou hastily told the wait staff to bring them one of everything. seemed slightly alarmed at the amount of raw food they would have to cook, but also excited.

"You don't look like the type of person who'd eat a lot of meat," she remarked.

"You never knew me back in the day," he chuckled. "This is nothing compared to the amount I used to eat with my teammates."

"I do hope this amount doesn't trigger a form of refeeding syndrome," she mused. "Teammates, huh? I think I remember that funny glasses-wearing fellow of yours mentioning that you two were on a sports team once."

"Back in the day when we could afford the luxury known as time," he snorted. "That's all in the past."

"I am curious, though," she began, "what compelled you to ask me out today?"

noticed a hint of somberness as Niou tried to hide his intentions behind a neutral expression.

"Change of pace, I suppose," he answered. "Don't wanna talk about the same stuff."

She leaned back into her seat. "Ah, I think I get it."

"Do you?"

"I absolutely loathe talking about my work sometimes," she empathized. "But, everyone just associates me with my profession, right? Always hoping I have some wild stories about what goes on and things of the sort..."

"Y-yeah..." Niou felt like he was being understood without even having to bring up the elephant in the room.

"I just want to talk about the latest Zombies game," she sighed. "The latest update severely ruined the spray patterns and now I can't get a good shot with any non-sniper."

Niou blinked a few times as he struggled to process the revelation. "Sorry, I don't play."

"That's unfortunate."

Some of their massive order began to come out of the kitchen and Niou started to meticulously arrange the thin cuts of meat on the tabletop grill. leaned on the table and watched as the man across from her fumbled around while cooking their food.

"You have an interesting way of arranging these."

"I just mapped out the hot spots and the colder ones and put things in places so they all finish cooking at the same time."

"What a strange talent you have, Sir Trickster."

"My name is Niou," he reminded her.

"I know. I just think Sir Trickster suits you better," she teased.

"Does it?"

She nodded. "It's way more interesting than your real name."

"Ouch. That's harsh."

picked up a few pieces from the grill and placed them on the plate in front of her. "Hm, these don't look that bad."

"Of course not. I am an excellent cook," he asserted.

She picked up and ate one. "Guess you're not lying."

"Do you really think that lowly about me?"

"No. I just like seeing your defeated reaction."

"Heh, you're an interesting person, ."

"Oh, spare me," she groaned. "Like I said, is fine."

"Pretty lady, then."

"Quite unoriginal and slightly misogynistic of you, but I'll allow it."

The two started eating in relative silence, but both of them were staring intently at the way each other chose to consume their yakiniku. Niou was the first to make a comment.

"No sauce or salt? Isn't it bland?" he asked.

"Not really," she replied. "This place has a really amazing marinade, so I don't feel the need to add anything else."

"Really?" He ate his next piece without slathering it in the sauce he had been using. "Hm, not bad."

reached over and dipped a piece into Niou's sauce.

"Hey, get your own."

"Didn't think you were a sweets kind of person," she remarked.

"I like the sweet and savoury combination."

"Care for dessert after this, then? I want some ice cream."

"Oh? Don't you got a job to get to?"

"I have more than enough time to kick your ass in a yakiniku eating competition and have you pay for dessert," she grinned. "Better get started, Sir Trickster."

"We'll see who's paying in the end, pretty lady," he laughed before stuffing his mouth.

Their heated competition didn't last for very long when Niou almost threw up what he had tried to shovel down his throat. Basking in the victory, did not hold back when they eventually did get dessert at a nearby overpriced ice cream parlour. Frozen treats in hand, the two went around to a nearby park area to sit down.

"Can't believe I lost to you," Niou sulked.

"You're just an amateur, Sir Trickster," she joked. "But, really. Thanks for today. It was fun."

"I didn't do anything," he said. "Just wanted someone to talk to."

"I suppose we're both just trying to avoid the elephants that everyone else is shoving into the room, right?" she laughed.

"Yeah, no kidding," he sighed. "Like, damn, can we talk about anything else? Bringing it up again and again ain't a good thing, you know?"

"People will never understand unless they've been in the same spot," she explained. "I can't tell you how to live your life, but I'd tell people to back off if I were you."

"Maybe..."

"If they don't back off, you have my number at least," she giggled. "Or, you could consider playing Zombies."

"After I finish my thesis, I'll consider it," he promised. "Better finish your ice cream before it all melts away, pretty lady."

Niou's roommate and longtime friend finally came back from his business trip of sorts a few days later. Though he was exhausted, Marui had enough energy to loudly barge into their apartment in a panic.

"Niou! Are you okay?!"

Quickly kicking off his shoes, Marui sped towards the closed door to Niou's bedroom and swung it open. Instead of finding a dead roommate, he was equally mortified to see that there were two people in there, lying underneath a plethora of blankets and most likely unclothed. Niou sat up and looked ready to commit a crime.

"Is knocking no longer a thing?" he grumbled. "Come on, Marui. Can't you see I'm with someone right now?"

"Oh God." Marui quickly closed and shielded his eyes with his hands. "I'm so sorry—"

"If you wanna watch, it's gonna cost you," he chuckled. "How much do we charge him, pretty lady?"

"A hundred million yen," was 's playful suggestion. "Five hundred million if he wants to join."

"I-I am okay!" Marui stammered as he fumbled around to close the door without opening his eyes. Tripping on his own two feet, he fell back onto his ass, causing his roomate to burst out laughing.

"I hope nothing broke," Niou said in a worried tone. " here's not licensed to treat that kind of injury."

"For the love of God, Niou, either close the door or put on some clothes!" Marui demanded.

The silver-haired man sighed as he got up to shut the door. "Fine, fine. Let this be a lesson for you to knock first, Marui."

"You bastard, I was worried about you! You didn't answer your phone for days!"

"But I'm fine, aren't I?" he pointed out. "Seriously, some of us have lives outside of the old group chat. Yukimura should try getting one."

Marui groaned as he got up off the floor. "Niou, you're actually a moron, you know?"

"Welcome back," was his response, completely ignoring the fact that he got insulted.

Niou crawled back into bed and lazily wrapped his arms around the woman he was sharing it with.

"Your friends really do care about you, Sir Trickster," she mumbled. "You ought to thank them for their concern."

"Don't feel like it," he pouted.

"You have to address it at some point."

"Since when did you start turning into them?"

"I'm just reminding you," she sighed. "You were right—this bed really is cozy."

"When am I ever wrong?" he said, matter-of-factly.

"I could name a few times," she mused. "Too bad. I should get going before my shift starts."

"Aw, do you need to go?" he pouted.

"Get people to stop being sick and then I won't have to go into work," she laughed as she got out and put her scrubs back on. "Perhaps we will see each other later, Sir Trickster."

"Your place or mine?"

"A dingy alleyway that reeks of pachinko parlour sweat and bad decisions."

"Oh, I like where this is going," he smirked.

"Hold your horses," she stopped him. "Rebound relationships aren't the way to go."

"Is this a polite way of telling me I'm bad in bed?"

"Oh, quite the contrary."

Niou also climbed out of bed and slipped on a pair of pants before walking out of the unit. After she left, Marui blocked his way back into his room, crossed arms and fuming.

"When did you get back?" Niou joked.

"I thought we agreed to hang a tie on the front door knob for those kinds of situations," Marui replied in an annoyed tone.

"Didn't feel like it. Maybe I wanted you to come and catch us," he grinned.

"You're unbelievable."

"How long do you plan on standing there?"

Marui gripped Niou by the shoulders, digging his fingers deep into the tissue. His eyes were red and irritated as he glared directly into Niou's.

"How could you do something so stupid like that, Niou...? I thought we were friends... Why didn't you tell me?"

Niou reached for both of Marui's hands and gently pried them off of him. He could feel them trembling.

"You wouldn't get it. None of you would."

"Of course we wouldn't when you never tell us anything!" he snapped. "You still think we're drifting away from you? You're the one running away from us!"

Marui's sudden outburst caused Niou to freeze in place. Taking this as an opportunity to air out a lot of his frustrations, the normally calm redhead continued to lay it on him.

"Relationships of all kinds are a two-way street. You have to put in the effort too if you want to maintain it. And you've been a pretty shit friend to all of us, Niou."

Niou wasn't sure what to say in response, but he didn't have the space to say anything as Marui continued his rant.

"I always knew this day would come," he choked as his voice began to crack. "My worst fear... That you'd do something like this while I wasn't here..."

"Marui..."

"You really are the fucking worst, Niou," he sobbed.

"Sorry," was the only word he could mumble.

"Are you, though?" Marui asked with a defeated tone behind his words. "You don't regret what you did, huh? You don't care, do you?"

"I do," he answered, somewhat annoyed. "I just didn't think any of you would notice."

"It's kind of difficult to ignore my chronically depressed roommate who never takes time for himself," the redhead groaned. "But... I was always too afraid to say anything either. It's my fault too."

"Well... I probably wasn't making it any easier, huh?" Niou realized as he scratched the back of his head. "Didn't wanna burden you—or anyone, really."

"Guess we're all at fault, huh?" Marui scoffed. "But you're still the worst, Niou."

"Duly noted. I solemnly swear that I will continue to be just as terrible."

Though they were able to laugh it off, Niou felt the heavy weight on his shoulders begin to lift. It was a foreign feeling to him, but it was welcomed nonetheless.

It would be another several months before Niou crossed paths with the woman who meddled with his life again. It wasn't that he was ignoring or avoiding , but rather, he was letting life get the better of him once more. Seeing her out in the streets caught him off-guard, but the bemused nurse looked more annoyed than anything.

"I was wondering what happened to you, Sir Trickster," she chided him. "You're still here."

"My bad," he apologized. "They finally let me out of my thesis-writing prison cell for the day."

"Ah, you're still plugging away at it, huh?" she asked. "You still look deathly pale, I'm afraid."

"You can only get so much sunlight from a tiny, decrepit department office in a university," he shrugged. "But that's why I'm out here now."

"I can see your personality hasn't changed much from the day we met," she giggled. "Is that why you never called me since the day I slept with you?"

"What?" he blinked. "You also haven't been messaging either."

"I suppose you have a point," relented. "I've also been occupied with my work and you were merely an afterthought."

"Ouch," he fake-winced in pain. "Touché, pretty lady."

couldn't help but laugh. "It's nice to see you, regardless."

"Yeah, same," he nodded. "I guess I better get going before my prison warden comes for my head. I'll see you around."

"Yes, I suppose I shouldn't keep you any longer, Sir Trickster," she giggled. "Do try not to be a stranger in the meanwhile. I sorely miss my fellow yakiniku-eating partner."

"I dunno," he began. "You still feel like bad news to me, ."

The woman was slightly taken aback by Niou's usage of her actual name. "What do you mean by that?"

"I lost the last time," he smirked. "Dunno if I can handle losing again to a pretty lady like you."

"Giving up already?" she taunted. "I expected more from you, Masaharu-san."

"Sorry to disappoint," he shrugged. "But, then again, I do enjoy making bad decisions..."

"Well, you have my number if you care to do more than just lose in a yakiniku eating competition," she smiled.

"Are you asking me out?" Niou questioned.

"You're free to interpret it as such," she answered.

"What happened to not getting into a rebound relationship?"

"It's been long enough that I think you're capable of deciding if it's an objectively good idea or not," explained. "But I just really miss having someone who can efficiently map out the hot spots on a yakiniku grill."

"I am really good at that, huh?" he boasted. "You're giving me a lot to think about, pretty lady."

"Think about it for as long as you need to, Sir Trickster," she nodded before stepping aside to continue on her way.

"Actually," Niou reached out and grabbed a hold of her wrist, "I suddenly feel up to the challenge."

"Do you now?" she wondered. "Loser foots the bill, then."

"You're on."