The train is empty aside from two salarymen, one falling asleep and the other obviously intoxicated. I get off at the same station I had used to escape an hour earlier. There are fewer people on the streets, making it easier to run. I stop in front of the red neon sign and string lights. A staff member picks up the restaurant’s sandwich board, carrying it inside. I try to follow her before she turns to me.

“Sorry, we finished taking orders,” she informs me.

“I’m just looking for my friend,” I say between breaths before leaning over and grabbing my knees.

“Is your friend here?” she asks.

We both turn our attention toward the sound of people hooting with laughter inside the café. I peer in and see two familiar girls stumbling toward the entrance with their arms around Shun’s shoulders. A tall, exasperated server follows behind them. The drunk trio yaps over each other while he pushes them outside.

As soon as Shun and the girls step onto the sidewalk, they separate from each other, stumbling in different directions. The girls tumble to the ground, laughing hysterically. Shun holds his arms out to the brunette and attempts to lift her off the ground, but she remains there with her eyes closed. The blonde girl rolls onto her side and starts coughing and gagging.

Maybe I shouldn’t have come back.

“Makoto!” Shun detects me. “You’re back!”

“Uh,” I stammer. “Yeah.”

I look back at the door where the staff were, but they’ve already left me.

“Who is he?” the blonde girl cries in my direction. “He looks just like Jaehan!”

Shun wanders over to me, abandoning the brunette who is no longer moving.

“Why did you come back?” His eyes are half-lit, and his cheeks are bright pink. I can smell the alcohol on him.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Hmm?” He squints his eyes at me as he sways side to side.

“Never mind.” I’m not going to try.

I turn away from the chaotic three and wave down a taxi. As it pulls up to the curb, I shake the shoulder of the brunette to wake her. Wrapping her arm around my neck, I help her off the ground and into the car. Shun imitates me, trying to lift the blonde girl, but then laughing hysterically as he falls to the ground next to her.

“Let me do it, Shun,” I sigh and pull her away from him.

“Come with me!” she moans as I push her onto the taxi seat. She refuses to take her arm off my neck so I have to peel it off. She falls on her side.

“Where to?” the driver asks.

“Where do you guys live?” I ask the girls, not entirely expecting an answer.

“Zoshigaya!” the blonde one exclaims, still on her side. “Come with us!”

I apologize to the gloomy driver and back away from the curb to let them go.

“Wait!” the blonde girl demands. “Come with us, Jaehan! Jaehan!” Followed by some other incoherent hollering. The brunette is against her window, completely passed out.

“Bye, Runa! Bye, Kumi! You girls are the best!” Shun waves his arm wildly as the taxi door closes.

I let out an exhausted sigh when they drive off.

“They’re gone,” Shun mumbles sadly.

He turns to me and staggers, almost falling over. I grab his arm to keep him upright. At the same time, his body loosens and his weight falls against me, making me stumble backward.

“Hey,” I say firmly, pushing back to keep him upright. “Don’t just give up. We have to get home too.”

He mumbles something and closes his eyes, his head falling forward.

“Come on,” I persuade him as I try to progress toward the station with his weight on me. He begins walking, but it isn’t long before he stops.

“I’m tired,” he groans.

“What are you saying? I’m tired too!” I hiss.

“Let’s rest.” He tries to let go of me and begins to stray away.

I grab his arm and pull him back.

“You want to sleep on the street? We have to hurry or we’ll miss the last train!” I exclaim.

We begin to walk, but it’s not long before he stops again. I’m forced to stop with him.

“Damn you, Shun,” I curse.

We’re never going to catch the last train at this rate. I sigh and drag him with me while I wave down another taxi. Once inside, I push Shun up against the window and sit down in the opposing seat. It’s a short ride home. He doesn’t budge the entire way, so I have to wake him when we arrive at our place. I’m pulling cash out of my wallet when he hands the driver a credit card. I have to take the card back for him because he’s already falling asleep when the driver tries to return it.

After we enter the house, Shun kicks his shoes off and lies down on the kitchen floor. For a moment I consider leaving him there, but then imagine him getting pissed at me tomorrow. I lift him up and lead him down the hallway.

“Do you have your keys?” I ask.

He murmurs something and reaches into his coat pocket, pulling out a keychain. He tries putting the key in the keyhole but misses the doorknob entirely. I grab his hand and direct it to the right place. He turns it and opens the door, but continues to lean on me.

Sighing and cursing, I drag him inside, grabbing at the chain hanging from the light on the ceiling. I let him fall over onto his bed. Squeezed of all my energy, I sit down next to him and let out a long, tired sigh.

One of his walls is decorated with string lights and a collage of polaroid photos. In a corner, there’s a full-body mirror with a ukulele propped up against it. His desk is cluttered with stacks of paper, binders, and a sewing machine. There’s a vase of dry flowers next to a small stuffed bear on the desk shelf. The room looks much more cheerful than I would have pictured it.

I look back down at Shun. He’s on his side, face pointed toward me.

“It’s been a long day, Shun,” I say.

His mouth parts slightly, and I can hear him breathing deeply now. Compared to the scornful look I’m used to seeing on him, his sleeping face is kind of, dare I say it, cute.

“Just please don’t wake up tomorrow and decide to hate me again.” I begin to stand up.

Suddenly, I feel a warm hand circle my wrist.

“Jae—!” he moans.

“Hm?” I look down to find his eyes still closed. After a moment, he’s breathing deeply again. I peel his hand off and tug at the ceiling light cord before leaving his room.

“Makoto.”

My name is being called by someone.

“Makoto,” he calls again.

Just a few more minutes, please.

“Makoto!”

I startle awake, lifting my head from a table. I look around at students sitting quietly, taking notes while a professor speaks. There’s an open textbook below me with a small wet spot on it. I rub my sore neck.

“Why are you sleeping?” Koki whispers harshly.

Slowly I recall the morning and coming to class.

“Did you stay up late last night?” he asks.

“Ah, yeah. Kind of,” I answer, still drowsy.

“The professor has been giving you death stares for the past ten minutes.”

I look toward the teacher and, just as Koki informed me, he’s looking straight at me with a face that makes me feel scared for my life.

After class is dismissed, I wave goodbye to Koki who has to run to his next class. Remembering my phone vibrating earlier, I open LIME.

Shinjiro
Makotooooo
Guess what 😊

Makoto
What

Shinjiro
There just so happens to be this thing i
have to go to on sunday
So im going to tokyo tmr!!

Makoto
Really?!
Wait, tomorrow?!
Ur coming?! 😲

Shinjiro
Better believe it baby!
So u better cancel all your plans for me
haha

After finishing classes, I’m practically skipping home from the station, probably more excited than I’ve ever been to see Shinjiro. However, my excitement suddenly transitions into uneasiness when I open the front door to find Shun at the kitchen table. We both freeze when our eyes meet.

“I-I’m home,” I say.

“Welcome back,” he mumbles.

While I’m taking my shoes off, he stands and begins to put away his juice and dishes. I walk through the kitchen cautiously, not knowing what to say to him.

“Hey,” he calls, his back turned away from me as he closes the fridge door.

“Yeah?”

He turns around but has his face pointed downward as he speaks in a quiet voice.

“Thank you for helping me last night.”

I can’t stop my jaw from dropping. Shun is thanking me? I have to shake the surprise off of my face.

“No, thank you!” I beam. Thank you for deciding not to hate me again even after I left you to fend for yourself against two drunk bimbos!

He looks up and shows me a smile. It’s not like the smirks I’ve seen on him countless times. It’s a genuine smile.