Friend

The cold had seeped deep into Natsuo's body, numbing his fingers and settling into his bones, leaving a chill that seemed to reach his very core.

After a few weeks of sleeping in a comfortable bed and eating delicious meals, Natsuo had almost forgotten how harsh nights really were. He had become accustomed to the warmth and comforts of his newly acquired life with Jiro.

Natsuo mulled over the consequences of his actions, weighing them in his mind to make sure he had done the right thing. He found himself more worried about Jiro's safety and well-being than he was about the loss of his privileges.

There was a certain darkness that settled over Jiro's face each time Nix summoned him into the criminal underworld. Jiro would sometimes disappear in the middle of the night and return with a black eye, never giving any explanation for those mysterious injuries.

Did Jiro stick with the yakuza just to satisfy Nix so they wouldn't harm them? He wanted Jiro to be free to make his own choices and free from the restrictions of the yakuza. A part of him dreaded the idea that he might be causing Jiro more harm than good by remaining in his life, with the possibility that he could never truly leave his past behind. It was only right for him to leave and make sure that Jiro would never have to choose between protecting him and freeing himself.

The chains creaked as Natsuo got up from a swing. He tilted his head back and gazed up at the night sky, which was illuminated by a crescent moon and dotted with twinkling stars.

But he also wanted Jiro to understand that his decision to leave was made out of necessity, not because he lacked anything.

Natsuo was embarrassed to face Jiro after his weird reaction, fearing that the storm of emotions would erupt again. He began walking towards Ayumi's rowhouse, wondering whether he could ask for a favor...

(A while later)

Jiro slammed the door shut with a loud thud, expressing his frustration. They had been searching for Natsuo all day with Ayumi and his hangover was only getting deeper. The pain in his head was excruciating, and nausea swept over him every time he moved too quickly. It felt like his throat was parched and his eyes were heavy.

"You know that he can disappear if he wants to," Ayumi sighed as she searched the fridge for a beer. She grabbed two cans and handed one to Jiro. He slowly opened it and took a sip, feeling the cold liquid drain down his dry mouth.

"How do you feel about him?" Jiro asked with a stiff tone and examined Ayumi's tired features after their lengthy search around the city.

She paused and sighed, letting her thoughts wander briefly before replying.

"Well, he seems insecure as hell," she began and slouched onto the couch, resting her hands on her knees.

"Really?" Jiro asked with furrowed brows. He remembered how Natsuo strode proudly down the school's hallway, glaring at anyone who dared to look at him for too long. He had a certain air of confidence that was difficult to ignore, but he also seemed to be trying to prove something to someone. Almost as if he was trying to demonstrate to the world that he was more than capable of more than was expected of him.

"Is he really as tough as he's trying to appear?" Ayumi asked skeptically.

"I'm not sure, but it definitely looks like he's trying to hide something," Jiro said, thinking of his averted gazes and sudden escapes.

One person knew Jiro's secret fantasies about causing pain and suffering to his old bully. That person was his confidant, the only one Jiro had ever trusted with such intimate thoughts - the therapist he had known since he was a child. He would often discuss the most graphic details with her, knowing he wouldn't be judged or shamed for his desires.

"I wasn't friends with him. I hated him. He is the reason I was sent to live with my uncle," Jiro said, his grip on the can so strong that it caused the beer to pour out and dampen his hand.

"Then why the fuck did you take him in?" Ayumi asked in disbelief.

Their conversation was interrupted by a soft knock on the front door. Ayumi looked at the entrance with a puzzled expression, wondering who it could be. She got up and opened the door to find a familiar figure standing there, illuminated by her yellow porch light.

"Sorry to bother you. Can I ask for a favor?" Natsuo asked as he shifted his weight and tucked his hands into his bomber jacket.

Ayumi froze, stunned by the sudden and unexpected sight.

"Natsuo?" She exclaimed, her voice loud enough for Jiro to hear her.

He stood in the doorway with red cheeks and downcast eyes. A nervous cough escaped his lips before he spoke.

"Would you be able to tell Jiro something?"

"What is it?" Ayumi asked, her voice taking on an uncertain tone.

"I want him to know... that I'm grateful for what he's done for me and that it's not something I take for granted."

Ayumi looked surprised at his sentimentalism and wrinkled her forehead.

"I... when we were kids... I used to be..."

"A douchebag, right?"

Natsuo finally gave her a shy glance under his brown hair strands. He nodded, the red color of his cheeks deepening.

"I know I don't deserve it, but I was hoping you could tell Jiro that I'm sorry for the way I treated him in the past," he said quietly.

Ayumi quickly nodded, not wanting to make him feel more uncomfortable. She took a few steps back and motioned for him to come in. Natsuo moved forward, taking in the warmth of her apartment.

She looked over at Jiro behind the corner and sighed, a hint of a smile on her lips.

"But why don't you say it yourself."

Natsuo widened his eyes in shock as he heard steady steps from her living room.

"I'm getting more beer," Ayumi announced and grabbed her coat, exiting through the same door.

Jiro stepped into the hallway wearing an all-black outfit and holding a beer can. He raised an eyebrow as he saw Natsuo and slowly walked toward him.

Ayumi pointed at Natsuo's back and moved her lips without making a sound, mouthing the words "insecure as hell" before closing the door.

"So, you wanted to tell me something?" Jiro asked, the corner of his mouth curling upward as he approached him.

"You... heard everything..." Natsuo stammered, unsure of how to respond as he was bombarded with Jiro's intense gaze.

"I did. And I am grateful for you saying that as well," Jiro said with a soft expression.

The voice inside Natsuo's head was screaming at him to get away, but something held him in place and he slowly looked up, meeting Jiro's eyes. He inhaled sharply, gathering himself before he spoke.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you... It was wrong and I regret it."

"Hello, my name is Jiro Takuya. What is yours?" He said as he bowed from the waist down as a gesture of greeting.

Natsuo swallowed hard, feeling a rush of heartbeats as he answered with his own bow.

"My name is Natsuo..." he replied, his voice a little shaky as he tried to keep his composure.

"Friends?" Jiro asked, crinkling his eyes and straightening his back.

Natsuo nodded, his chest swelling with unknown warmth.

"Friends..."

(Later that night)

Jiro sat on his penthouse's balcony, a joint in one hand, marveling at the beauty of the sunrise. The smoke from the weed filled the air around him as he watched the sky turn from deep purple to a warm orange.

It baffled him why he had become so anxious after noticing Natsuo's absence. Small details of Jiro's daily life seemed to be observed by him during their time together, even those that he had never disclosed to him. He always poured coffee into Jiro's favorite silver mug and ordered his meals without mayonnaise because Jiro usually wiped it off.

Jiro took a drag from his joint, feeling the familiar warmth spread through his body as the cannabis reached his lungs. He exhaled slowly, letting the smoke drift away in the breeze.

He smiled inwardly, remembering the conversation they had earlier that evening. He had been so relieved when Natsuo agreed to continue living with him, as he had grown to depend on his presence over the past few weeks. Yet even amidst his relief, a slight pang of doubt still lingered in the back of his mind. He had been planning his revenge on Natsuo for months and was uncertain if he could carry through with it.

Taking it day by day made sense to him since he wasn't able to make any decisions at that point. For now, he was content simply to enjoy the moment and savor the peace that the sunrise brought.