Haru clutched the cardboard box, its weight mirroring the churning in his gut. Inside, a gourmet cheesecake from Unicorn Bakery – a pricier, five-minute trek beyond the usual campus fare – held the potential to alter his afternoon, maybe even his semester. Every outrageous yen was a calculated gamble. He took a deep breath, nerves jangling. Three sharp raps on Yuki's door echoed down the hall. Silence.

Just as his confidence threatened to evaporate, the door creaked open a sliver, revealing Yuki's sleep-mussed hair. Surprise flickered across his face, then his eyes hardened with a cool demeanor. He acknowledged Haru with a quick, deadly cold gaze, before attempting to shut the door with a decisive slam. Haru lunged forward, his heart pounding as a desperate cry escaped his lips. "Wait!"

His hand jammed between the closing gap, and a jolt of pain shot up his arm. "Stupid door."

"Trying to get squished?" Yuki's voice held a hint of annoyance, muffled through the wood. 

Haru winced, both from the throbbing fingers and the formality of his full name. "N-no, of course not! I brought... a peace offering." The words tumbled out in a rush, punctuated by another yelp of pain. "Cheesecake! From Unicorn Bakery."

The door opened a crack further, revealing a sliver of Yuki and a skeptical eyebrow. "A culinary bribe, then? You don't need to grease my palms. I can feed myself, you know."

"I know," Haru stammered, cheeks warming under the scrutiny. "This is... a gesture. Not a bribe."

Yuki sighed, a sound heavy with unspoken exhaustion. "Tokyo's expensive. Gotta spend your money smart. Ramen fills you up way more than fancy pastries for the price."

"I... am going to start working part-time next week. At Family Mart. Besides, this gift... isn't too expensive."

"Are you sure? The receipt says fifteen hundred yen."

Haru checked the cake box and horrifiedly found the purchase receipt still clinging stubbornly under the clear plastic wrap. The numbers glaring back in bold numbers. His cheeks burned. Nervousness had caused him to forget the incriminating evidence!

Just as he reached for the receipt, Yuki gently took his injured hand. A kiss seemed imminent, but instead, Haru felt a soft puff of air graze his skin. "This will get swollen later."

"You think so?"

"I know so." Yuki tapped on his cheeks that were swollen badly a couple weeks ago. He nudged the door open further. "Next time, don't be such an idiot."

"Thank you," Haru said, unsure if this meant an invitation to come inside. He decided to follow Yuki and climbed upstairs.

Yuki heading straight for the kitchen. He filled a basin with warm water and retrieved a small towel. Patting the round table at the center of the room, he invited him to sit. As Haru placed the cake box down, Yuki gestured for his hand once more. Hesitantly, Haru extended it. He began compressing his fingers. The water soothed.

"Sorry about the park. And everything else. I apologize for everything."

Yuki paused in his care for Haru's fingers. "I apologize too." His expression softening. "I was overreacting that day. I hope I didn't embarrass you."

"No, it was my fault. You have every right to be angry."

"I didn't say you were innocent. I apologized for overreacting. Can we drop the apologies now?"

He studied Yuki's expression and sensed the underlying guilt in his demeanor. It struck him then, a reminder that Yuki still cared for him, despite everything that had happened.

"No worries," he finally replied, trying to look casual. "Everything's cool."

"Don't get me wrong," Yuki said, still focused on Haru's fingers. "I did apologize for being rude, but that doesn't mean I'm going to put up with you prying into my business again."

"Fair enough. It won't happen again. I just want things to go back to how they were."

"What do you mean, back to how they were?"

"Before I messed up."

Yuki didn't reply right away. He paused for a moment before shrugged. "Well, I messed up too."

"Then let's just be two messy good friends."

Yuki cackled.

Haru leaned forward. "Hey, I'm serious."

"Here's the thing: I'm not sure I'm the right friend for you," Yuki admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I think you might be better off without someone like me. I can be pretty distant and brooding, as you can – or can't – tell."

"That's not true," Haru insisted. "The Yuki I know went on picnics with me, chatted and walked with me every morning to campus, even helped me with my backache. He has always been there for me. That's the guy I know and care about."

Yuki's jaws tensed as if he was biting something hard. "You're just being nice."

Haru knelt down to get closer to Yuki. He fought the urge to push aside the hair covering Yuki's eyes, wanting to look directly into his earthy brown irises. He needed to know what Yuki was feeling right now.

"I'm not. The Yuki-san I know is warm, friendly, and always ready to help. You're one of the few good people in Tokyo."

"Okay, enough with the flattery."

"Flattery? You think I'm flattering you?"

Yuki pulled his head up and finally gazed at him squarely. But he didn't say anything. His brown eyes look strangely empty.

"You're always like this." Haru couldn't hold back anymore. "Why do you always push me away?"

"What?"

"Every time I try to get to know you better, you kick me out!"

"I don't. Now you're overreacting."

"You welcomed Nishii-san. You accepted her as your friend."

"That's different."

"How is it different? Explain it to me."

"I don't have to. I don't want to. Why are you so desperate to be my friend?"

CRASH!

Haru's foot knocked over the bowl, splashing water all over Yuki. He lunged forward to catch it, but slipped on the wet floor and collided with Yuki, who fell backward with a thud. Their faces were suddenly inches apart, he was hovering over him, their eyes locked intensely.

"I know there's another Yuki inside..." Haru felt his voice trembled. Adrenaline surged within him, racing his heartbeats. "I don't know why he's hiding but that's the guy I want to be friends with! He's not perfect, he's flawed, but who cares? Nobody's perfect!"

The shadows in Yuki's eyes deepened, reflecting a mix of surprise and contemplation. It was as if a silent conversation passed between them, a dance of unspoken emotions.

CRACK!

The sudden sound broke the fragile tension between them. Haru found himself staring at the ceiling, disoriented by the unexpected turn of events.

A flood of memories bombarded Haru's mind, each one a testament to the depth of his feelings for Yuki. Hopelessness and longing washed over him.

Yuki stood up, water dripping from the edge of his shirt. "I think it's time for you to leave," he said, his voice was firm yet gentle, his intention was crystal clear.

Taking a deep breath, Haru acknowledged the situation with a nod and made his way downstairs, each step weighed down by unspoken confessions and unanswered questions. He wished for the world outside the apartment to devour him and his restless feeling.

...

Haru closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his heart heavy with emotions. He almost kissed Yuki. Despite his sincere feelings for the neighbor, their relationship seemed to be stuck in a cycle of rejection and longing, leaving Haru feeling lost and uncertain.

He wanted to bridge the gap and reconnect with Yuki on a deeper level. But each attempt to express his feelings only led to more rejection, intensifying the whirlwind of conflicting emotions within him.

"Haru?" Nishii-san's voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the reality.

"Oh, Nishii-san," he replied, trying to compose himself. "I'm back."

"Welcome back. What's going on with you?" Nishii-san approached him and touched his hand. "You're all red and sweaty. Are you feeling sick?"

"No, I just..." he reckoned he had to lie. "...finished a run."

Nishii-san nodded, looking slightly worried. "By the way, I've already made some squid kaarage. I set aside some for Yuki. Could you like to take it to him?"

"I... have some homework to do."

"Alright, I'll take it to him later. Let's eat now," Nishii-san suggested as they sat down at the dining table.

As they ate, Nishii-san brought up a topic, "I need to talk to you about something. I'll be heading back to Yokohama for a few days this Saturday. There's something important I need to take care of. I'll be back in Tokyo by Monday night or Tuesday morning. Will you be okay staying alone?"

Haru nodded, trying to hide his inner turmoil. "I'll manage. Don't worry about me."

"I know Midori's place is usually bustling with people. If you feel uncomfortable being alone, I can ask Yuki to stay with you."

"No, I'll be fine!"

Nishii-san pulled back, her mouth agape.

Haru realized how abrupt he sounded. "I mean... Yuki is still recovering," he quickly added. "It's better for him to rest. I'll be fine by myself."

Nishii-san raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Okay, if you're sure. I'll let Midori know about my plans then."