When Baddie and Edgy did make it back home in time, the lights were still off and Sunny-D was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh. That's new, I thought Sunny would've been back by now—" The red jumped when Edgy suddenly ran past him. "Edgy??"
The blue roommate didn't respond, beanie thrown askew as he slammed open the bathroom and the sound of wretched puking echoed through the empty house. This caught Baddie by surprise, remembering this wasn't a normal case of "being someone's wingman". The whole day felt so normal he forgot about the hanahaki Edgy was suffering from.

Baddie quickly closed the door behind him, wincing when he heard the coughing and hacking in the bathroom. He rushed over and... That same face of pure agony, blood-red lips and petal-stained cheeks, Edgy's eyes strained closed. Had he been holding it back throughout the day? "Do you— What can I— How can I help?" Again, that pit in his stomach worsened seeing his roommate bleeding so much. He might've enjoyed teasing and prodding the blue, but he'd never wish something like this on him.
Edgy took a couple deep breaths before croaking out. "Water, please."
The red nodded immediately, heading back to the kitchen and grabbing a cup. Filling it with lukewarm water, Baddie's frown deepened when he listened to Edgy still upchucking in the toilet. He wondered if the sweet coffee he jokingly ordered for his roommate worsened the taste of iron and roses in his mouth.
When he went back to the bathroom, it seemed like Edgy managed to control his breathing and flower-puking. The prankster knelt down to the blue, carefully handing his roommate the cup. Downing the cup, the blue sighed shakily and leaned his back onto the cold tub, eyes closed. The bathroom was silent for what felt like forever, and it took awhile for Baddie to realize the soft, battered breathing he was hearing was snoring. He stared at his roommate in bewildered horror, his roommate still reeking of blood and littered with petals, cheeks not stained with tears but closed eyes just as wet.
Just like the night before, Baddie carefully hoisted up Edgy, carrying the sleeping blue back to his room and laying him down on the bed.

Oreo mew-ed when he saw his owner, hopping onto the bed after the red threw the covers over him. "I still can't believe he kept the furball," Baddie thought, watching as the cat pitter-pattered his paws on Edgy then curled into a comfortable sleeping position. "at least he's keepin' him good company."
He kept Edgy's room door ajar, going back outside to get the discarded beanie. Just as he picked up the hat, the door locks clicked open.
"Ah, you got home before me!" Sunny-D exclaimed holding... an unusually large box in his arms. "I'm so so so sorry for being late to movie night!"
The prankster just smiled, laughing at Sunny's reaction to being late as he pocketed Edgy's hoodie. "Don't worry, we just came back not too long ago. You're not late but movie night might be off tonight since, once we got back, Edgy passed out like a light." Well, that's not technically wrong.
Sunny-D smiled back, as kindly as always, hefting the box up again. "Awh, you two must've had an eventful day in the park then."
Baddie could completely hear the concern in his voice. "We didn't fight... much, if that's what you're worried about. I told you, nothing to worry about Sunny-D."
The red glanced at the box his roommate was struggling to carry. "Not to change the subject or anything, but ya need help with that? Geez, what even is in that thing?"
Immediately the sweets-loving man moved the box away from Baddie, smiling apologetically. "I'm fine, don't worry! I just need to take this up to my room, but thank you for trying to be helpful!"
The prankster raises an eyebrow, but shrugs. Sunny-D's not one to keep secrets from them, but then again since when was Baddie ever anything other than a tricky lil' shit? "Suit yourself, i'm going to bring Edgy his beanie back then call it a night myself."
"If that's the case, goodnight!"
Waving his roommate goodnight, Baddie did as he said and went back inside Edgy's room.

Unsurprisingly the blue was still asleep, still snoring softly as if he wasn't just spouting out roses a few minutes ago. Baddie settled for placing the beanie down at his nightstand, but didn't leave Edgy's room just yet. Blood stains were crusting where the puke dried up, and the few rose petals around him were wilted. Can't just leave him like that.
"...Fuck's sake." Baddie gave in to his humanity, kneeling down and bringing out another tissue, wetting it with whatever water was still left in Edgy's cup, and started dabbing it gently on the stains. "He owes me so much more than a good night's sleep."
Despite the shit he was spouting, the red continued to clean up his roommate until he looked less like a man-slaughter. The clothes... that's Edgy's problem, not his.
Baddie tossed away the napkin into the trash bin, leaning his back at the edge of his hopeless roommate's bedside. So step one is being Edgy's practice boyfriend, since clearly he's never dated anyone before (not like he's any better though), but what after? The prankster sat there, cross-legged and deep in thought, wondering what could happen next after the blue's had his practice. He's gotta ask out Bad obviously, but where and when would be the perfect occasion? Baddie did his best to rattle his mind, what would work, what would work? Were there any events they were planning on going? Hmm...
That's when it hit him: the karaoke gathering Meg and his friends planned out! Sure, it was originally for just the six of them, but what harm can three more people do? Immediately, the red texted Meg.

B: hey, youre still up for that karaoke meeting right?
M: ofc dude!! why? something came up?
B: nah man, but you fine if we invite a few more buddies?
M: say no more, ofc you can!! who're you inviting???
B: bbh, skeppy, and a6d. you cool w/ them?
M: hell. fricking. yes. the more the merrier!!
B: sweet, i'm hittin' the hay, see you all then
M: night!! can't wait for friday!!

Smiling triumphantly, Baddie chuckled quietly. Then, a thought came to him. A question. Is there a cure for Hanahaki, just in case shit hits the fan? He sighed, feeling sleep catching up to him, but knowing he wouldn't be able to pass out without at least knowing pushed his consciousness to stay awake as the search engine opened up. Time to do some research.

•

Baddie was woken up by something wet scratching the tip of his nose. He scrunched it up, groaning tiredly as he gently shooed away whatever that was making his nose slobbery, rubbing his eyes with one hand and wiping the wet spot with the other.
"You know, I get that you're dedicated to be my fake boyfriend and all, but isn't this much? Sleeping at the side of my bed like a worried lover?" The red's eyes shot open, seeing his roommate knelt down in front of him with a bored expression. Still, he could see a hint of mischief in those eyes, the motherfucker.

The devilish man scoffed, sitting up straight and shoving Edgy's face to the side. "Oh, please, like that would ever happen. Don't flatter yourself too much."
"Whatever, i'm only agreeing to go along with this plan until we come up with a better one." The blue retorts, getting off the floor and dusting himself.
Baddie noticed that he was already dressed out of yesterday's clothes, and realized that he himself hasn't even had the chance to clean himself. Despite this, the red smiled chesirely in response to his roommate. "Just make sure you don't fall in love with me til' then."
He laughed when Edgy scrunched his nose in disgust. "As if. I do have taste, you know."
You have a thing for sweets, sure. Baddie kept that comment to himself, getting off the floor as well. "Anyways, I'm going to get myself cleaned up. We're going out again."
As per usual Baddie doesn't hear Edgy's protests, leaving his roommate in favor of changing clothes. Something he did notice that was unusual was Sunny's lack of presence.
"If you're wondering," Edgy called out from his door frame. "Sunny-D left earlier than yesterday so that he doesn't end up late to Techy's place again."
"Another date? Damn, even Sunny's getting more action than you." Though he couldn't see Edgy's face, the prankster can already imagine the annoyed look on his roommate's face.
"Hey! You're supposed to be helping me with that anyways, asshat!" Baddie just snickered in response as he got changed.

Once Baddie's ready, he meets Edgy outside the house, seeing that his roommate is glued to his phone once more. He rolled his eyes, willing himself not to vomit at how cheesy this all seemed. Apparently BBH was worried after they left the cafe, even more so when the beanie-wearing blue didn't return his messages last night. Not like his counterpart would know about Edgy's hanahaki though, so he can't be blamed for worrying.
He did find it amusing that Edgy hadn't bothered to ask where they were going, only to finally realize they were at the shopping center.
"Baddie, what are we doing here?" The blue deadpanned, pocketing his phone.
The only response he got was a cheeky smile. "I need to buy something, don't worry we won't be here long. So, you've been talking to Bad long enough to know what sorts of things he likes right?"
"I mean— yeah, sorta—?"
"Great, meet back here after two hours." Without another word, Baddie walked off on his own, leaving Edgy confused and exasperated.
"He'll thank me later." The prankster mused, looking at his own phone. "Now, I just need to find these oleander pills."
By the end of the two hours, Baddie manages to buy himself  just one bottle of the pills. It's only for a week, and he's pretty sure Edgy'll succeed in confessing to Bad. There's no way yesterday was all coincidence, his counterpart for sure showed hints of jealousy. Makes sense though, Baddie himself has never really been the jealous type.
Edgy arrived at the spot ten minutes later, and thankfully not empty-handed. "Good job furball, you're not completely incompetent. So, what'd you get for him?"
"Firstly, fuck you." Fair. "Secondly, don't you fucking laugh or i'll kick your ass."
The prankster snorted. "You could try, though I really doubt it. But sure, I won't laugh."
He watched as his roommate pulled out a plush muffin out of his paper bag. It had googly eyes and the muffin top looked like a whole brown sheep.

Baddie slapped a hand onto his own mouth. "PFFFTTT!"
Edgy's face exploded in red, probably from both anger and embarrassment, as he shoved the muffin back into its bag. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO LAUGH YOU ASS!"
"Nonono!! It's—pfft—it's perfect for him, i'm sure!" Baddie tried, failing not to sputter his words with giggles. "It's just—it's so...cute!"
Edgy groaned in frustration, covering his red face with his beanie, and started walking out of the shopping center. "That's it, i'm going home!"
Baddie laughed aloud, he couldn't help it, clutching his stomach as he tried to catch up with his roommate. "Noooo! Edgy wait! Hahhaa!"
It took the red awhile, but he managed to bribe the beanie-wearing blue to follow him again with the promise of more coffee at the park.
"I'm not heading inside." Edgy argued, in which the prankster nodded. That's fair enough, after what happened yesterday, he wouldn't want to make things awkward.

That being said, Baddie walked into Baker's Dozen by his lonesome, already knowing what drinks to get. Apparently the frappe "wasn't all that bad", hah. Upon sight, Badboyhalo seems to jolt from surprise—or embarrassment?—but realized he probably looked as dumb as he was acting and calmed down. A plastic smile plastered his face, chipperly asking for Baddie's order, it was painful to watch.
"You alright there BBH?" Baddie asked with mock concern, internally enjoying his counterpart's mental battle. "You're acting...strange."
The baker yelped, before nodding immediately. "Yeah, yes! I'm fine, don't worry! Just, uh, all muffin-y in the head these days, hahaha..." Wow, did he say painful? That was excruciating.
The red whistled at that trainwreck of a response, simply nodding in response. "Suuuuuureeeee, whatever you say buddy."
The rest of the waiting was filled with tense, awkward, silence. Finally, Bad said something as he made the drinks. "You and Edgy seem... close."
Baddie blinks at the wistful sigh in BBH's voice, the smile on his counterpart's face bearing similarities to Edgy's. "That's great, i'm really happy for both of you." Was that...bitterness?
Oh my god. No fucking way. "What do you mean?"
"Huh? Well, you're uh— well, you know—?" He so wishes Edgy was here to feel this second-hand embarrassment. This is just.. completely and utterly laughable.
Baddie smiled lopsidedly. "Bad, we aren't dating."

Three seconds. Three seconds is all it took for Bad's face to go up in flames, eyes practically quivering from the shock of reality. Baddie could swear he heard the mental screaming coming out of BBH's head. "OH!! Oh my goodness I— oh my god i'm so so sorry I—"
Honest to god, this is the widest the prankster's ever smiled. Baddie watched in awe as Badboyhalo stumbled over his words, rubbed his arms and tugged at his sleeves. His counterpart was turned into a hot mess in the span of seconds. "I didn't—!! I mean—he—he talks about you in our messages and—and you both seemed to get along so well—!!"
Suddenly, Bad shoved the drinks into the devilish man's hands and ran off. "TECHNO I'M TAKING MY LUNCH BREAK!"
Baddie was still laughing when he left the cafe, handing a confused Edgy his drink, but a thought lingered. Since when did Edgy ever talk about him? And since when did he talk about him in a good way? These questions stayed in his head as the two of them continued to talk in the park, finding themselves situated at an empty playground area.
As Baddie sat at the top of the slide, he remembered the things he bought earlier.
"Hey Edgy, think fast." The prankster called out, tossing the bottle of pills to his roommate who was sitting on one of the swings.
The blue managed to catch the pills without dropping his half-empty coffee, looking at them curiously. "Oleander pills? You took me to the shopping center...for drugs."
This response prompted Baddie to smack the beanie-wearing male upside the head, who protested by elbowing the red's side. "Ow—!Tch, no, dumbass. They're for your hanahaki shit."
Edgy blinked. "What?"
Lord please remind him why he promised to help this dense idiot.
"Look, oleander is normally poisonous—deadly even, but apparently the poison counteracts that of the hanahaki disease." Baddie explains, gesturing at his roommate to hold one of the pills. "The liquid inside? Oleandrin, affects the heart and is pretty damn strong from what I read." Inside the pill, a cartoonishly purple liquid sloshed around the capsule. "It'll stop the flowers from spreading further into your heart and bloodstream, but you'll still have to vomit. Can't have the poison running in your blood for too long afterall."
The horror in Edgy's face cleared away as he took a deep breath. "Geez, this is totally better than what I was already upchucking, thanks Baddie."
Baddie smacked him again. "Hey, I didn't have to do the research. Just be happy there's something that'll weaken the hanahaki disease. Not to mention I used up most of my wallet for those pills."
It seemed like his blue roommate was going to argue, but stopped. Did he read something on Baddie's face, or did he realize the work his roommate did for him? Either way, Edgy contented himself with sighing and looking at the pill in his hands. "It is better than dying slowly."
With that being said, he watched as the beanie-wearing male popped one of the pills in his mouth, downing the rest of his coffee with it. A temporary solution, but that's all they needed for right now.

Unconsciously, Baddie prayed that what he read online was true to its word, or he may be killing his roommate even quicker.