I'm sorry about everything

"Do you think this would suit me?"

Jiro tried on a taupe jacket and smoothed out the fabric on his wide shoulders. His white hair cascaded over his forehead as he checked out his reflection in the mirror - the warm hue of the blazer highlighted perfectly his brown eyes and his confident smile made him look even better.

"W-why would you ask me that?" the brunet stammered and turned around to hide his reddened face from the other.

Natsuo was anxious in the designer store since he was surrounded by high-quality, exquisitely crafted textiles. The stylish clothes and well-dressed patrons somehow intimidated him, so he kept his eyes down and avoided looking at anyone, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

"You are right. We came here to buy clothes for you, not for me," the white-haired man laughed as he placed the item back on the rack and threw his long coat around him like a cape.

"Let's look around and find something that suits you," he continued with a slight smile.

The blue eyes scanned the price tag of the nearest sweater and the brows above them furrowed.

"All this for a shirt?"

"Don't worry about the price," Jiro reminded.

Natsuo nervously squeezed the bag strap that contained his newly acquired smartphone, which his high school acquaintance had insisted on buying despite repeated protests that it was too expensive. He shifted uneasily, feeling uncomfortable with the generous gestures again.

"Do you want them to be a bit oversized?" Jiro as he tried to match the garment to the other's thin frame, but the latter quickly backed away from him.

"It's fine... I just... don't waste your money on me," he sighed as he brushed his long fringe to hide his blush.

"Okay, here is what we are going to do. Sit down and let me bring you some outfits. You can just point to which one you like better," the man suggested as he nodded to the velvet couch behind them.

"Go on," he continued with a firm stance that signaled he wasn't interested in a debate.

The younger man did as he was told and observed the white-haired man shuffle around the store, picking out clothes and placing them in his arms.

It had been a sleepless night for him even though he had been given his own spacious room with a comfortable bed. He had laid awake all night, not able to stop thinking about whether the little ghost had ulterior intentions and was only trying to manipulate him by appearing so helpful. His stomach twisted at the thought as he watched Jiro with a guarded expression, urging himself to remain vigilant and keep his distance.

The yakuza didn't seem to be aware of his concerns and just smiled at him when he returned, seemingly oblivious to the war in his new roommate's mind.

"Take a look at these."

They sorted through all kinds of clothing from shirts to shoes, from trousers to jackets. It didn't take long for the former homeless to end up with a whole wardrobe filled with everything from formal wear to casual attire. Jiro chose pieces that he thought would suit the other's style, acknowledging his preference for comfort and coziness - with the added bonus of being relatively affordable.

"Jiro, I just... " Natsuo muttered when his old classmate swiped the credit card and placed it back in his leather wallet.

"I should have guessed you would be here," a female voice announced as they stood at the cash register.

They both turned around to face the speaker. A young woman with fiery red hair stood behind them, her arms crossed over her chest and her hips cocked to one side. The luxurious fur coat she wore was adorned with sparkling diamonds, adding to her glamorous appearance.

Jiro smiled kindly when he saw her and stepped forward to greet her.

"I'm sorry for not replying to your texts. Things have been a bit busy," he explained in a friendly tone.

Natsuo turned his focus away and tried not to be intrusive, but he couldn't help but listen their converstation.

"Are you on a date? With... him?" the woman asked suspiciously, eyeing the couple with a scowl on her face.

Natsuo clenched his jaw as he heard her question, struggling to remain composed as the heat rose to his forehead. Jiro chuckled and shook his head.

"No, no, we are just friends. I just took him shopping to get some clothes."

"Wouldn't it be nice if you took me shopping someday?" the woman asked, raising her voice. She smiled coyly and kept her dark brown eyes on the multimillionaire with a raised brow, almost as if she was challenging him to accept her offer.

Jiro suddenly turned to Natsuo and handed him his wallet.

"Go to the next store and buy everything else you need. I will stay here with her for a while."

Natsuo timidly grabbed the wallet, not daring to look at the redhead who watched him closely. His body was flushed all over as he made his way out of the store.

"Who is he anyway?"

His ears still picked up the woman's query and how the man answered with a soft laugh.

"Oh, just no one."

The ex-thief was overwhelmed by the sudden realization of how much money he held in his hands. He stopped in his tracks as he grasped the heavy wallet - the amount of assets inside was beyond his wildest dreams.

Natsuo thought of all the possibilities he could have with that fortune. He imagined taking out all the cash and running away, never looking back as he was just a mere nobody.

It was the desperation that had driven him to become a thief in the first place - the endless days of hunger, the fear of the freezing nights, and the darkness that seemed to be eating him from within. Without caring who he was stealing from, he remembered what it was like to do whatever it took to survive, pushing morality and ethics to the side.

Then, the familiar male voice brought him back to reality.

"You didn't go? I thought we could catch up later," Jiro laughed amusedly behind him. He was startled when Natsuo attempted to give back his wallet without even looking at him.

"I can't do this," Natsuo whispered while keeping his head low.

He was still holding the wallet when Jiro yanked him closer from his wrist. Natsuo turned his head away, feeling his chest tighten as if there wasn't enough air to breathe, when the man's fingers stayed on him.

"So, are you coming or not?" the red-haired woman asked as she gestured toward the outdoors, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Sorry, Izumi. Let's meet up later," her acquaintance apologized before leading the other man away with a strong grip.

"What? You know what I'm offering you?!"

Jiro didn't answer her as he led Natsuo to the nearest bathroom, dragging the thin figure behind him who tried to resist, but was too weak to do so.

The yakuza locked the door behind them and placed the large shopping bags on the floor. The small space suddenly got brightly lit and the harsh light reflected off their features, revealing every contour of their faces.

"Would you like to live on the streets again? Has that always been your dream?" Jiro asked confusedly.

Natsuo shook his head, his mouth set in a stiff line. The previous bully was too ashamed to look into the pale brown eyes that searched for his blue ones.

"So what's this all about?"

His mind raced with a million thoughts, but every one of them was messier, more tangled, and more complex than the last - the memories of his insecurities, the struggles of his past, the shame and guilt he carried with him.

He wanted to tell him what he was feeling and why he was acting that way, but the words wouldn't come out - they were stuck in his throat like a lump of clay.

Still, he decided to try.

"You are buying all these things for me that I don't deserve, but I... never even apologized."

Jiro's eyebrows twitched slightly, perhaps because he had not expected the other to sound so emotional.

"I just want you to know that... I would do things differently if I could."

The pain in his voice was obvious as he pressed his head lower. It was probably the most difficult statement he had ever done, yet he knew he had to make it.

"And I'm sorry about everything... and for not having the courage to stand up for you," Natsuo managed to utter as he glanced at the white-haired man.

The former little ghost looked powerful and intimidating, but his voice was gentle and his expression was tender as he opened his mouth to answer.

"I forgive you... as long as you live with me."

The smaller man raised his head in surprise, looking shocked at the unexpected request after already formulating excuses to leave, when he didn't want to be a charity case and a burden to the other one.

"Look, like I said, I'm glad to have some company. I have been alone for a long time, and I think so have you. Maybe we can find that company together, you know?"

He smiled that seemed to be genuine.

"It's fine. You can finally become the person you always wanted to be, the one you were meant to be. Let's forget about the past."

Natsuo took a moment to gather his thoughts while Jiro waited patiently for him to do so.

"Okay... I will try..."

"Good. Now, let's get out of here."

He couldn't help but flinch as the former victim of bullying spoke so authoritatively. They grabbed their shopping bags and headed out to the mall, supposedly starting the next chapter in their lives together.

Natsuo hurried after Jiro, taking more confident steps as he walked alongside his fresh roommate, still feeling the man's touch on his wrist.