Two pair of goddamn shoes and that's when he braced his shoulder in preparation to slam against it, door swinging off its hinges pitifully.

It took a total of two seconds to register Rintarou looking completely out of it and a man standing in front of him, pants unbuttoned but nothing out yet. It seemed as if he had been struggling to keep Rintarou up and deal with his natural stubbornness.

"THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

Who cared about an answer to his question because, with the flimsy door that had broken, Osamu used it to slam against the man's head, not caring if he had broken his neck but glad that it was strong enough to have him fall on the ground, cold. For good measure, he stepped onto his balls with full force, hoping he popped something before quickly going to Rintarou who was just about to fall off the toilet.

"Rin? Are ya awake?" Osamu asked quietly, poking his cheeks before coming to the conclusion that even if he was, he wouldn't be getting any clear answers. "Come on, Bub, we're going to my place."

After he got his ID back and promised to the employees and manager that he was actually taking care of Rintarou and he wasn't teaming up with the man that lay in the bathroom, he was able to go─ only after proving it with Rintarou's phone wallpaper, showing them his gallery, and proving it with being able to show them their speed dials.

He swore all they wanted was something to gossip about.

That night was spent taking care of his best friend and making sure he was hydrated, flushing out the drugs and dressing him every time he'd drool on himself or puke a little. By the time he had called Atsumu to tell Kiyoomi that Rintarou was alright, it was already the following day nearing lunchtime. He really should've told them from the day before but they had been the last ones on his mind.

That's when Osamu busied himself with making a soup filled with enough hidden vegetables that would hopefully nourish his groggy best friend somewhat. His friends had still been there when he returned the same night, all of them worried and anticipating his return but left the moment they spotted him bridal carrying a drugged-out Rintarou. Even his roommate left to give them some time.

"Eat up, Rin," Osamu instructed, helping with spoon-feeding him as his hands were still clammy.

"Ahh," Rintarou said loopily, still recovering as he giggled around the spoon, Osamu smiling at him.

He wouldn't spring him with questions yet, allowing them to lay in bed all day and ditch their classes as Rintarou made himself comfortable on his best friend's chest, dressed in his comfortable clothing that held the smell he loved and dread building up as he felt the time coming when he'd have to tell what was actually happening in his life.

He felt like escaping, not wanting to face reality but alas, he had been wandering in the darkness for too long and it was time to come to light. His light.

"Rin?"

"Hmm?"

It was coming.

"Ya know we kinda hafta talk about this, right?"

"Not really. We don't have to," Rintarou tried but he had already lost.

Osamu pulled on a shirt, getting them up as he guided them to his living room to sit on the couches. Rintarou fidgeted with his hands staring anywhere but at Osamu's face.

"Let's start with why ya were at the bar last night and the time before," Osamu said, getting right in. "Enlighten me"

"I work there?"

Osamu blinked, nodding slowly as he tried to process the fact that Rintarou actually worked in a bar.

"Alright. So, what d'ya do?"

"The basics. Drinks and that's about it."

Rintarou felt as if he were being interrogated. He didn't want to answer but the longer he kept it in, the worse he felt. He had to get it out and Osamu was there to listen. He was there as his support and if he kept to himself too long, Osamu might just up one day and abandon him. He had to get it out even if he didn't want to.

"Rin, is that why yer suddenly tired all the time? Do ya not get breaks? And ya manage to get in school while working so far from yer dorms?"

"Yeah? And I don't get breaks because I choose not to. I need the money, Samu," Rintarou whispered, closing his eyes.

"How about yer parents? Do they know ya need extra?"

Rintarou scoffed, shaking his head as he looked at Osamu with a sad smile.

"They don't care, Samu. They don't care at all. They're the ones who left me here."

And Osamu looked at him puzzled because in all the years they had been best friends, not once had he seen them mistreat or abandon the black-haired. He had always believed they were close to their son and cherished him. Especially because he never mentioned or showed any signs that he didn't get along with his parents. Was he a worse friend than he thought he was?

"What're ya sayin'?" Osamu asked almost nervously.

"My parents left me. They never cared for me and only pretended when you and Atsu were around," Rintarou explained, voice suddenly shaky as he wet his lip. "They sold the house, moved to another country, left me, and said I had to get a job. That's where you then found me." His voice wasn't stable and that's when he knew all he could say was, 'fuck it' and get everything out. He couldn't bottle it all in and only cough it out piece by piece, his life was coming down in a crash of darkness and the only way to keep it right would be to find his light. "Did my homework at odd hours, worked at the bar on days I had no classes or as soon as I finished class, nearly became a prostitute." He paused, his heart hurting to know that what he'd say would most likely hurt Osamu more than he hurt himself. "I was so close Samu, so close. I had already gotten accepted to be a prostitute. Suck dicks for money, sell my body for extra cash, and just be someone's little toy. I'd be wrecked. I'd have no form of dignity but I'd be able to keep going." Rintarou paused again, gazing emptily at his best friend, the sudden urge to reach over and hug him although he probably didn't deserve to. He felt bad, horrible, disgusted even, but he remained glued to his spot. He had to finish speaking now that he started. "But then I freaked out and the day you found me that first time, I had just cancelled out last minute, the guy from then and last night, I think you noticed it was the same person, was desperate to get in my pants. So desperate, Samu, and no matter how tempted I was just for the money, I thought of you," Rintarou laughed unamused at himself, shaking his head as he let out a sigh. "I thought of you, thought that you'd be disappointed and even though you didn't know, I didn't go through because I had a feeling this day would come and I wouldn't have the guts to tell you that your best friend was a slut and had countless people shove their dicks through all the orifices of my body. Couldn't bare the shame and disgust I'd feel but I kept working at the bar in hopes that all the tips I received would be enough to keep me going."

Osamu had stood up sometime during his talking, unable to process the information and coming damn near close to losing his mind.

"But why didn't ya tell me?" Osamu asked, eyes searching for an explanation, searching to see if he could find a reason why. "You were sufferin', Rin, and ya didn't tell? Why?"

"I don't know," Rintarou admitted, head looking down. "Thought I could handle it on my own. Can't say. Just didn't wanna burden you I guess. Kiyoomi was my shoulder to cry on. He never asked what was wrong but he let me cry in his arms anytime I wanted. Never felt as good as when you'd be my comfort but he was there."

"But- BUT WHY DIDNT YA TELL ME?!" Osamu yelled, grabbing onto his hair with frustration. It was upsetting him that Rintarou hadn't thought, not for a second, that he could've helped. Or, more like he did think that, but it didn't count because the black haired hadn't said anything anyways. Osamu seemed to register the rise of his voice and with a sigh, lowered it. "Why, Rin? Why? Ya know I care about ya. Ya know I would do anythin' to help ya. So why didn't ya at least hint at it from the start?"

Rintarou felt his vision blur but he refused to cry. He refused to break down right there because he knew Osamu was telling the truth and him crying would only look like he was trying to escape the situation.

"Samu," Rintarou croaked miserably. "I didn't want you worrying over me more than you already did all our lives. You've always been the one to help me and if I told you, it'd make me feel guilty that I never do anything for you in return."

Taking a step towards his best friend, Osamu looked at him with a sad smile, crouching down so he could look him in the eye better than when he was towering.

"Rin, never have I ever felt that ya don't do anythin' in return. Never. Always were ya there for whatever I needed. My best friend, my sports companion, my entertainment, my personal teddy bear, someone I could pamper and feed, my partner in crime, fellow Tsumu bully, someone I hold dearest, and my light. You were always there. Never say ya weren't when all I could ever see was you."

Rintarou stared at him wide-eyed, hands fidgeting as he blinked. All this time Osamu considered him his light? All this time he was held as someone his best friend held above himself and he had only ever thought of himself as darkness?

As a shadow?