Picture-Perfect Frame

The city eased into the day under a gray, cloudy sky. Cold air settled along the streets, and the sidewalks were quiet save for the sound of early traffic rolling by. A few lights were still on in an apartment's windows, and steam drifted up from vents along the curb. People moved with hands in their pockets, heads down, starting the day without much hurry. It was a calm and ordinary morning.

Just across the street from the apartment, a pair was making their way along a crosswalk.

A girl holding a bag.

"Did you at least let him know that we were coming?"

And a boy with his hands in his pockets.

"I sent him a text, but he didn't reply. Didn't even read it. He also didn't answer my phone call yesterday, so..."

"That doesn't necessarily spark confidence, Koga. What if it didn't go well, and he's tucked under his sheets, sulking or something? He probably wouldn't want us barging in."

"Relax, Yue! It'll be fine! What better way to cheer up than to see your loveable best friends? And besides, we come bearing gifts! Breakfast! Taka's never turned that down even on his darkest day."

"Yeah, well... I feel like this is different. He's been depressed about Megumi for the past three months. That's a lot longer than all the times Chiaki's rejected him combined. And unlike with Chiaki... Megumi's not gonna stick around."

"Q-quit saying things like that! It's bad karma. Let's just hope that isn't the case."

Upon this cool morning, where the sun had not yet fully ascended above the horizon, the two made their way up a set of stairs.

"Um... Yue?" Koga mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"I— uh... About Taka... Alright. You know what? I'm just gonna say. I'm totally freaking out right now. D-do you really think it didn't go well?"

"Oh, so now you're worried? After all that preaching about how we shouldn't be saying things like that?"

"I was just trying to be optimistic, okay?! What if she didn't wanna stay? What if she flat-out rejected him, and now she hates him? Or what if..."—he let out an exaggerated gasp—"What if she just didn't show up at all?! Left our boy waiting out in the cold only to leave him disappointed!"

Yue raised a brow.

"Yeah, well... I guess it's a possibility. At best, she might not have had time, being a celebrity and all. And at worst, she didn't even bother giving up her time, since — same thing — she's a freaking celebrity."

"Ah... Poor Taka..."

Koga struck a pose to steel his nerves.

"Okay! We're committing. If that really did happen, then he's probably feeling down. Way down. And as his bros, we have to be there for him!"

"Agreed. Come on. We're close."

They continued further down the walkway. The numbers on each plaque kept descending as they went, till they finally arrived at the right room.

"Phew..." Koga gulped. "Here we go."

He entered the correct passcode, and the door beeped open. With a deep breath, she poked her head in.

"Hello?" he called out with the world's loudest whisper. "Taka? Are you awake?"

Silence. And so, he shut the door and turned away.

"Welp! That's that! Looks like he's still asleep. N-not to worry, though. We'll just come back later, and— Ack?!"

Before he could escape, Yue yanked him back by the collar of his sweater.

"Come on, Koga. We came this far."

"I'm... a bit scared, though."

"But Taka could be in a really dark place right now."

"Oh, yeah. You're right."

"I am right."

"He could be crying right now."

"Maybe he is."

"Then let's go."

Still nervous, Koga took his shoes off by the door and crept in. If video games had taught him anything, it was to check every corner. The small compartment that led to the bathroom, the first corner to the kitchen, and then the living room.

Not a single soul in sight.

"Yue!" he whispered again. "I think he's still asleep."

"Yeah, probably," she replied. "It's seven in the morning on a weekend. That dude would sooner fall dead than wake up this early."

"Right. That's true. Anyway, let's just leave the food here, and—"

Yue slid past him with ease, making him panic.

"W-wait...! Yue!"

First, she rested the bag of breakfast on the counter, then scanned the kitchen area. A dirty plate rested in the sink, implying that Taka at least ate something. That was a good sign.

Apart from that, there was nothing, which left only his bedroom. As much as she didn't want to intrude, she resolved to at least check up on him.

The moment she took the corner past the kitchen pillar, she came to an abrupt halt. Her eyes peered further into the living room behind the couch. And what she saw... made her smile.

"Koga," she said with a much softer voice. "I think you were right. We should've probably come by later, after all."

Surprised, he froze at the end of the hallway.

"Huh? Why? W-wha—?"

Before he knew it, Yue had returned and was already pushing him gently out the door.

"Come on, come on~ Nothing to see here."

Once she had him out the door, she stepped out and quietly pushed it shut, but not without sparing a final glance. At first, she thought it was her imagination. Perhaps her anxiety had amalgamated into hopeful hallucinations.

"Yue? What is it? What did you see?"

"Hmm... What did I see, huh? Pfft~"—she flashed an uncontrollable grin—"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

"W-wha—?! Shouldn't I be the judge of that?! Come on, just tell me!"

"Nope. Anyway, I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."

"Huh?! But we just ate breakfast!"

"Yeah? Well~ I have an appetite again."

"Yue..."

But something like that... was far too vivid to simply be a hallucination.

On the floor by the couch, Taka was sitting there with his eyes closed, breathing slowly. It seemed like he had fallen asleep right there, so the worst came to mind. But when she took one step further, all her doubts faded away like mist upon morning's first light.

There she was — Megumi no Hana with her head on Taka's chest while he was leaning on hers. They were deep in slumber, hand in hand, peaceful... as if the worries of yesterday were finally over.

Take Two: Us

End