*Mimi wo sumasu - Japanese proverb that means: listen carefully

Haru was grateful for Nishii-san's unwavering support. It was her who had nursed Yuki back to health after his hospital stay. Apart from a broken nose, bruises on the temples and stomach, and a few cuts on his arms, Yuki had no other serious injuries. Nishii-san handled it all with expert care, and Haru couldn't thank her enough.

It had been a week since the chaos in Shinjuku, and Haru couldn't shake off the change it brought to his perception of Tokyo. The bustling metropolis, once a city of dreams, now held a shadow of the dark side within its crowds. Tokyo was filled with friendly faces, like any other place in Japan, but the thugs who had attacked Yuki were a stark reminder of the darker underbelly.

On his routine call to Yoshino, Midori always asked about the incident. She sounded worried and advised Haru to be more cautious. She was also worried about Yuki. Haru reassured her, mentioning how Nishii-san had taken charge of the situation. Chie, ever the curious friend, had to pry the details out of Haru when she noticed Yuki's absence at the cafe. She was genuinely concerned too, so Haru told her about the incident.

Since the assault, Haru found himself navigating the campus alone. The once-shared morning walks with Yuki were now solitary, leaving him feeling rather lonesome. Their usual evening routine also disrupted, lacking the usual glimpses through the windows as Yuki spent most of his time to rest.

That day, after coming home, Haru decided to stop by the neigbor to deliver something. Nishii-san was given a spare key by Suzuki-san, to make sure they were always ready for any unexpected situations. He went in and climbed upstairs. He found Yuki in the kitchen, seemingly absorbed in some activity.

"Hello, Fujiwara-san. What are you doing?"

Yuki looked up with a wide grin. "Nishii-san is on late shift again tonight, so I know you'll drop by. I'm making porridge. Let's eat together!"

"Nishii-san said you should take it easy," Haru replied, following Yuki into the kitchen. "You've got to call me if you need help."

Yuki chuckled. "It's just porridge. No heavy lifting. Just rice, hot water, broth, and minced chicken. Besides, I can't let you and Nishii-san to bring me food anymore. I still owe her for all the meals she's given me."

"She doesn't mind at all."

"I know, but... you get my point. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

Haru hesitated, but he was touched Yuki's determination. Resigned, he decided to lend a hand, preparing the dishes and brewing some tea. The delicious aroma of the porridge began to fill the room as Yuki, carrying the steaming pot, set it on the low round table – their customary spot for  dinners – and poured a serving for Haru.

"I haven't had the chance to properly thank you for having my back in the alley that night," Yuki bowed sincerely. "I appreciate it. If you didn't call the police, those thugs might've killed me."

Haru nodded, reciprocating the bow. "I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn't stood your ground, we'd both be in trouble. I was so stunned, my brain went into pause mode at that moment."

"Don't mention it. My best friend once told me that true friends make sacrifices." He shrugged. "I used to be quite self-centered."

Haru caught the reference to the "good friend" and decided not to delve into it. "There's a judo club on campus, and I've been considering giving it a shot."

"Sounds great," Yuki agreed. "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay? Judo involves some serious throws, and I don't want you suffer a sore waist again."

They shared a chuckle.

"By the way," Haru retrieved something from his pocket. "I stopped at the police station earlier. They found your ID card. Here."

Yuki accepted his ID with both hands and a nod of gratitude. "Thank you. Sorry for dragging you into this."

"No problem. They tried reaching you but couldn't get through. I told them that your phone took a hit during the brawl. I left my number as an emergency contact, so they called me instead."

Yuki nodded, returning his focus to the meal.

"About those goons of Akuma, they've roughed you up before, right? That's how you got those bruises when we first met, not from some bathtub tumble."

Yuki remained silent, pausing in his chewing.

"Just to be clear," Haru added quickly, "I'm asking because those thugs are well-acquainted with your ID. They've probably told Akuma about you."

"Akuma is related to a yakuza gang."

Haru was taken aback, not expecting that revelation. "So, you were borrowing money from a yakuza?"

Yuki nodded, his eyes focused on his porridge. "Before I started working at Shiru Café, I was at a host bar. Not as a host, but as a waiter. It was the fastest way to get a job—folks in those places rarely care about your background. Akuma's boss is a yakuza, he owns the place. He asked Akuma to manage the bar. I was a bit short on cash, so I borrowed from Akuma. It wasn't a problem since I worked there—I could pay him back. I saved up my salary and cleared all my debts, including the interest. So, there shouldn't have been any issues."

"Then why did Akuma's guys attack you?"

"There was this one host, his name is Takumi. He often made mistakes, and clients rarely picked him because he was rather small and had a low tolerance for alcohol." Yuki paused and put down his chopsticks. "One day, he passed out at the club, and I was tasked to take him to the hospital. When he regained consciousness, he cried, said he missed his family and wanted to go home. I couldn't help myself so I started questioning him. Takumi said he was only 15—too young to be a host. That explained why he was so clumsy at the club and can't drink much. He came from Hokkaido, a fellow northerner like me. He said he had been offered the chance to learn English at a language school in Tokyo so later he can work overseas, but his sponsor sold him to the host club to settle a debt. Akuma took his ID and cellphone, and Takumi had no money at all. Since he didn't serve many guests at the club, he only earned enough to cover his personal expenses. It was impossible for him to escape; clearly, Takumi was deceived. He also told me that some of the other hosts were underage and came from remote areas all over Japan..."

Haru gulped as the realization sank in. Now, he understood why Yuki knew so much about the night district and its shady business – he used to work there. The plight of that poor Takumi boy evoked his sympathy.

"I was so furious, I went to the police right after taking Takumi home," Yuki continued, his breathing accelerating. "I shouldn't have done that, but I was just following my instincts. The police knew they couldn't mess with a yakuza, so they 'advise' him instead, telling him to be more careful with his business. The yakuza called Akuma. It was pretty easy for Akuma to figure out who made the report. They could've killed me, but the police is watching them, so I just got fired, and beaten up," Yuki rubbed his cheek, where he got beaten by Akuma's goons. "That's why the thugs referred to me as Akuma's mutt – he used to be my boss."

"What about Takumi and the other guys?"

"I never heard from him again," Yuki slammed his fist on the table, a look of fury in his eyes. "I tried to help, but I couldn't. The big boss is untouchable. He's too powerful..."

"Hey, don't put this on yourself. Dealing with a yakuza is always risky business."

Yuki started to tear up. Suddenly, he let out a long, heavy breath, and cleared out his porridge. "I didn't mean to lie to you or Nishii-san that day when we first met. I meant to tell her the truth, but I knew she'd be worried, so I kept it to myself. Since you've had my back, I guess I can trust you. Just don't spill it to Nishii-san, okay?"

"Of course, you can count on me."

"Thanks."

"You sure Akuma won't come after you again?"

"I'm pretty sure. At this point, they've beaten me twice and stolen my ID. If they do that again, the police have no choice but to investigate. Akuma's boss won't like that."

Haru nodded in relief. It was quite a wild story. "You're so brave."

"You think so? Dumb, that's more like it."

"If I was in your shoes, I'd probably do the same thing."

"I know. You're a good person."

Haru felt his face boiling. All he cared about was making sure Yuki was safe. "Can I ask why you decided to change your name?"

"Ah, right. You know my real name." Yuki glanced at him and managed a weak smile. "I want a fresh start."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"Not right now," he replied. "You need to finish your porridge. It's getting cold."

...

The next morning, Haru strolled onto campus fashionably late.

Chie, standing there coolly, was all about Yuki when she questioned him – no small talk or anything else. Since that visit to Nishii-san's place, there was an undeniable distance between them. This wasn't the usual loud and always bossy Chie; this was a subdued version. Haru found it concerning, but he figured perhaps it was only temporary. After all, he knew Chie like the back of his hand. She couldn't keep up the silence act forever.

They only had two classes that day. Haru sat next to Chie throughout the first class and she didn't utter a word. Instead, she dove into note-taking mode. Haru was left wondering whether Chie was truly absorbing Tanaka-sensei's lecture or just putting on a show.

"Aren't you going to the cafetaria?" Chie finally broke the silence after the class.

"I'm not really hungry," Haru replied.

Chie just nodded, opened her bento, and pulled out a sandwich, splitting it into two. She handed Haru one half, and he thanked her before starting to eat.

"I stopped by Shiru Café yesterday," she suddenly mention, "It just doesn't feel right not seeing Yuki-san behind the counter."

"I also want Yuki-san to get well soon," Haru confessed. "That's why I always stop by to check on him. This morning, some of his bruises were starting to fade. Nishii-san said his nose will be as good as new in two weeks."

Chie nodded, slowing down her chewing. "You're like that, aren't you, Haru."

"Like what?"

"Remember Ogawa in fourth grade?" Chie grinned, pointing at the corner of Haru's lip where there was a smudge of mayonnaise. She handed him a tissue and continued, "The one we called Daruma because he was a bit chunky? It was the annual Sports Festival. You lost the race because you waited for him, even though you were just four steps from the finish line."

"Ogawa was exhausted," Haru reminisced. "He almost passed out."

"In our second year of middle school, Tomoe-chan, the karuta club president, invited you to join her club," Chie picked up the thread, "You knew nothing about karuta, but you agreed because you felt sorry for their undermanned club. You ended up being the only guy in the group."

"Karuta was fun, actually. I asked you to join several times, but you always turned me down."

Chie rolled her eyes. "Then, magically, you became a pro, winning every karuta game. Tomoe-chan got annoyed and kicked you out because you kept beating her."

"Ah, that's right. Pretty embarrassing, huh?" Haru chuckled.

"It was tragic," said Chie, shaking her head. "Then, when we were in the first year of high school, you stumbled upon a stray kitten behind the school and smuggled it into the classroom. Afraid of being busted by Sensei, you hid it under your shirt. That's when the kitten decided to make a mess."

Haru couldn't forget that one. "The whole class lost it, and I got caught."

"Your uniform reeked of cat pee. Ended up having to shower in the gym and borrow Takagi's jacket."

They both burst into laughter. Chie covered her mouth with her hands. Haru didn't expect her to remember everything, but she was there for all those events.

"You're a soft touch for people in trouble, Haru. Animals too," Chie continued. There were some tears in the corners of her eyes. "Ever since we were little, you've always been like that. Because you can't turn a blind eye to people who are in trouble."

"Is that a bad thing? "

Chie fell silent, crumpling her tissue into a ball and tidying up her lunchbox. "Not at all. If you weren't like that, I wouldn't recognize you."

"Meaning what?"

Chie grabbed the tissue in his hand and crumpled it too. "The Haruki Nakano I know is a guy like that – someone who's always ready to help. If you change your character, I won't recognize you anymore."

Haru didn't know how to respond. Was that a compliment? Or a joke? But Chie seemed sincere when she said it. Part of him was surprised that Chie could be so serious – usually, she's just goofy and carefree – the other part was impressed.

"Stay like that, Haru," she patted his cheek with a friendly tap and headed for the trash can to toss away the balled-up tissues. When she returned, she didn't immediately sit down in her place, but stood in front of Haru with her hands on her hips.

"Let's ditch this class."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah. Skip class. After this is Nishima-sensei's session. It's just a seminar, really. No big deal if you don't show up."

"Why did you suddenly suggest skipping class? What kind of friend are you?"

"Nishima-sensei never takes attendance. He wouldn't notice if someone was absent," Chie teased with a wink. "You're too much of a goody-two-shoes, Haru. Once in a while, be a little rebellious. Are you a dude or not?"

...

They hadn't given much thought to where they'd spend their time, so they aimlessly wandered around the campus park, basking in the warm weather. By four, Nishima-sensei's class had officially wrapped up, and a couple of Chie's girlfriends invited her to go karaoke. Haru, feeling unexplainably exhausted that day, wasn't up for it. Politely declining, he opted to head back home.

As he strolled toward the campus gate, Haru felt like he was walking on air. There was a thrill in being a rebel, playing hooky had an inexplicable charm. However, he made a silent vow not to make it a habit (unless there was a real emergency).

While waiting for the traffic light to change, Haru noticed someone approaching out of the corner of his eye. He was surprised to see his neighbor there.

"Fujiwara-san? What are you doing here?"

Yuki waved. "Sorry for catching you like this. I know your classes are done for the day. Can we talk?"

Instant unease washed over Haru. Yuki seemed somewhat irritated, and Haru couldn't shake the feeling that he was the reason behind it. It must be serious if Yuki had sought him out instead of waiting until he got home.

"Is everything okay?"

"There's a park nearby. Let's go there."

Haru agreed and allowed Yuki to take the lead. After a three-minute walk, they reached the park near Shiru Café. A few students lounged around, soaking in the warm spring air amid vibrant blooming flowers. They found a secluded spot in the park. Haru felt a nervous energy, but he tried to keep his composure.

Haru pointed to a bench, but Yuki paid little attention. Instead, he pulled out his phone, tapped on something, and thrust it in front of Haru's face.

Haru blinked nervously. "What's this?"

"Please take a look."

Haru squinted at the screen, revealing an email from a publisher.

"I got this email this afternoon," Yuki declared, his tone lacking any excitement. "This publisher claims they got my manuscript, but I never sent them anything."

Haru was dumbfounded. He had no idea publishers sent confirmation emails like that!

"Nakano," Yuki's voice turned frosty. "Did you send them the manuscript?"

"Hold on, Fujiwara-san—"

"No more pleasantries! You opened the trash bag in front of my door, took out the manuscript I tossed away, and sent it to the publisher using my name," Yuki snapped, his knuckles turning white. "That's what happened, isn't it? Just tell me the truth!"

Haru took a deep breath and stared directly Yuki to show he meant what he was about to say. "I didn't mean any harm. I saw you putting in so much effort on that manuscript every night. I don't get why you threw it away."

"Because decided to end it. You're meddling in other people's business, you know?"

"I understand, but if you could just hear me out first, Fujiwara-san—"

"Stop acting so polite! You have no shame!"

"Fine!" Haru stood up. "I apologize for grabbing the manuscript from your trash, Yuki. I was just curious at first; I didn't plan on keeping it. But when I read it, the story really touched me. I liked it. And I'm not the only one who will. There are definitely others who'll appreciate it too. That's why I was determined to send it to the publisher."

Yuki closed the gap between them, his intense gaze revealing earthy brown irises that Haru could practically dive into. "How dare you..." His words spilled out fueled by anger. "I can't believe you actually did such thing... after acting so polite all the time...."

Haru made a deep bow. "I just wanted to help. I can't stand to see the story to be trashed like that. Please forgive me."

Yuki remained silent, his legs swinging in front of Haru's head as if he wanted to kick him.. Haru knew he deserved it. Of course, Yuki would be furious.

"Nakano."

Haru cautiously peeked up. Yuki stared back at him.

"Starting today, don't come to my house again. I want nothing to do with you."

"But wait, what if the publisher actually likes the manuscript?" Haru pleaded. 

"You understand nothing!"

Yuki roared, lunging backward until Haru tumbled to the ground, a punch landing on his chest. Onlookers gasped, but no one intervened.

"Do you think everyone is a god, and we can just be ourselves?" Yuki's breath was rapid, his eyes dilated. Haru's stunned expression reflected in those intense pupils. "You're so naive, like a frog in a well talking about the ocean!"

Haru mustered up the courage within himself and kept staring into Yuki's eyes, searching for the mischievous and friendly version of Yuki that had emerged in recent months. The Yuki who treated him to ramen in Shinjuku. The generous Yuki who often invited him to share a meal. However, all he found was emptiness—a chilling void akin to freshly fallen snow.

Yuki shoved Haru aside and got to his feet. "Wait!" Haru grabbed his shoulder. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just a frog in a well, clueless about the ocean. But I know the characters in your story. Shinji, the main character... that's you, isn't it? And Nagisa... he's the young boy in your soul altar."

Yuki was taken aback. His mouth hung slightly open, and he stared at Haru as if witnessing something truly shocking. For a fleeting moment, his friendly and pleasant side resurfaced. Yet, Yuki swiftly quashed those emotions, shrouding them in darkness. His expression turned icy in an instant, and he pressed his index finger against Haru's chest.

"I don't want to see you again."

The icy barrier had solidified once more. This time, it felt a million times stronger than ever before.