Is he still alive?

"I'm sorry I made you wait, sweetie," the white-haired man said and smiled at his boyfriend, who had been waiting outside the bar.

Natsuo blushed and looked around, suddenly embarrassed by the man's comment. He had grown accustomed to being affectionate with the other one, just not in public yet - but not a single soul seemed to pay any attention to them, since most people were too busy with their own conversations.

"It's fine. Do we take the subway?" he asked after Jiro motioned for him to follow.

It was a warm summer evening and the sun had just begun to set. The streets were filled with happy locals and tourists enjoying the last bit of warmth before night set in. The neighborhood was alive with the usual sounds of traffic and chatter, while the air was rich with smells of spicy food from nearby restaurants.

"I ordered a car to pick us up. It's a bit nicer than usual - " Jiro started to say, but suddenly coughed, his eyes watering as he cleared his throat. His face was quickly drained of color and his body swayed slightly as if he was about to faint.

"Are you all right?" Natsuo asked and got closer to the other man, studying him carefully to see how he was feeling. His earlier hesitations vanished as he took his hand and let his instinct to protect take over.

"It's nothing, I just finished my beer too quickly," the yakuza said, waving off the other one's concern.

"I'm a grown man and can take care of myself," he continued with a small smirk.

He nodded toward a shining limousine that had just pulled up to the curb with tinted windows and a purring engine. Jiro ushered the man into the back seat and hopped beside him, closing the door behind them.

Natsuo didn't notice the luxurious decor as he was still concentrating on his boyfriend's condition, looking at him worriedly and fearing that he would collapse at any moment.

Seeing that, Jiro leaned closer to his former classmate with a reassuring look in his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine."

The man in a suit moved his hands to cup his companion's face and gently tilted his head up, just before their lips were about to meet.

"There is something we could do at home," he whispered softly, his breath tickling the opposite man's skin.

"Naked, in bed, or wherever you prefer."

A cheeky smile flashed across the white-haired one's face as their tongues intertwined. He lifted the smaller man onto his thighs, cradling him in his arms, without breaking the kiss.

Natsuo closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth and softness of that particular person's lips against his. He let his fingers get lost in his counterpart's hair and caressed his scalp with a delicate touch.

There was nothing he would have changed. He was happy, truly content with their current situation and relationship. His worries and troubles vanished when it was just the two of them - sure, the man could be a little too eager and passionate, but Natsuo trusted him, from the core of his being. Everything just felt right.

But then, Natsuo noted how the man's lips abruptly slowed and trembled as if some emotion was passing through him. He backed away and examined Jiro's expression in surprise.

"I'm sorry, I might not feel so good... after... but don't wor..."

The blue eyes widened as he noticed that his housemate's lips had turned dull and blue - even his gaze looked distant and unfocused like his thoughts had slipped away from him.

"Jiro?"

The man's body slumped against the back seat and his eyes rolled back. Within seconds, his breathing became shallow and his muscles twitched as he seemed to lose consciousness.

"Jiro!" Natsuo called again, his voice louder as he shook his shoulders and tried to wake him up.

He banged on the closed window desperately trying to get the driver's attention. The older man had driven the car silently the entire time, but rolled down the shades when he heard the noise.

"C-can you rush to the hospital as fast as you can?" Natsuo stuttered in shock and turned to look at the white-haired one, noticing how a pool of foam oozed from the corners of his mouth.

(Later that night)

The hospital hallway's white walls appeared endless, adding to the anxiety that had loomed over Natsuo since his partner had lost consciousness in the car.

With no news from anyone, he was left to his own thoughts as he paced back and forth the seemingly never-ending corridor, growing more anxious every minute.

He remembered Jiro saying he drank his beer after they left the bar - logically, his companion's sudden illness could only be explained by poisoning or some kind of stroke.

"Are you a relative of Jiro Takuya?"

A middle-aged male doctor approached the only individual in the waiting area. His gaze was suspicious and he eyed the teal-haired young man rather cautiously, as if trying to figure out if he was trustworthy.

"We live together. I am the only one he has," Natsuo replied in a raspy, broken voice.

The doctor nodded slowly, looking like he approved his response.

"Please, follow me."

Natsuo walked with the doctor down the long corridor, sweat dripping down his forehead as he feared the worst-case scenario. He held his breath as he wobbled forward, terrified of what he might find at the end of the hallway.

The doctor led the patient's companion into a tidy office and gestured for him to sit in an armchair. Natsuo thanked him, bit his lip, and hid his trembling hands between his knees as he struggled to keep his composure.

"Is he still alive?"

His voice was weak, almost quiet, as he asked the question that weighed on his mind most heavily. He couldn't imagine his life without Jiro anymore. At that point, the man's presence and the memories they made together felt almost like a distant dream, fading away with every passing moment.

The doctor sat behind the desk and began to explain the situation with a serious face.

"The patient's condition is critical at the moment. The test showed he had been poisoned with cyanide."

Tears gathered in the young man's blue eyes, but he fought to keep them under control.

"It appears that his oxygen levels were too low for too long, leading to the seizure. The CPR he was given in the car probably saved his life," the man in the white coat stated.

Natsuo stared at the oak table before him, reliving how he had tried to breathe life back into his unconscious boyfriend, but feeling so desperate and helpless as the seconds ticked by. The driver had sped to the nearest emergency, screeching through the streets as fast as he could.

"We are doing all we can to stabilize his condition, but it is too early to tell what the outcome will be."

The doctor paused before continuing, his face solemn and voice grave.

"He is in a comatose state now."

Natsuo felt like he had stepped into a nightmare, one he could not escape, as the scrap of hope that remained faded away.