Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The glow of the computer screen illuminated Reo's face in the otherwise dark room. 11:47 PM on a Tuesday night, and here he was again, staring at the same four walls of his bedroom while his parents attended another business dinner downstairs. The sounds of polite laughter and clinking glasses drifted up through the floor, a soundtrack to a life that felt increasingly distant from his own.

He'd finished his homework hours ago—advanced calculus and literature analysis that his tutors insisted would prepare him for his "bright future." The same future that had been mapped out for him since birth: business school, then taking over the family company, then marriage to someone equally wealthy and well-connected. A future that felt more like a carefully constructed cage with each passing day.

Reo minimized his completed essay on economic theory and opened his browser instead. His fingers hesitated over the keyboard before typing in a familiar URL: Anonymous Chat Network. It was a simple site—no profiles, no photos, just usernames and text boxes. He'd discovered it a few months ago when searching for... well, he wasn't entirely sure what he'd been searching for. Connection, maybe. Something real. It was a weird website though, more often than not there were weirdos. But, its not like he had anything better to do.

PurpleKing has entered the chat

The general chat room was mostly empty at this hour. A few users were discussing some anime he'd never heard of, and someone was asking for homework help with physics. Reo scrolled through the messages, not really reading them. Sometimes he'd jump into conversations about soccer or movies, but tonight felt different. Tonight the loneliness sat heavier in his chest than usual.

He was about to close the browser when a new message appeared:

lazyninja: is anyone else here because they can't sleep or is it just me

Something about the message caught his attention. Maybe it was the casual honesty, or maybe it was how perfectly it captured how he felt right now.

PurpleKing: definitely not just you

lazyninja: cool. insomnia buddies

PurpleKing: is it insomnia if you're choosing not to sleep?

lazyninja: philosophical question. what's keeping you up then

Reo paused. He could give the easy answer—homework, video games, whatever. But something about this stranger's directness made him want to be honest too.

PurpleKing: family stuff. you?

lazyninja: boredom mostly. and my roommate snores like a freight train

PurpleKing: roommate?

lazyninja: dorm life. you?

PurpleKing: home. big empty house

lazyninja: that sounds nice actually. peace and quiet

PurpleKing: it gets old pretty fast

lazyninja: grass is always greener i guess

They fell into an easy conversation after that. Lazyninja talked about his classes (apparently he was in his second year of high school, same as Reo. Dorms..?), his annoying dorm mates, and his complete lack of motivation for anything that required effort. Reo found himself laughing at the dry humor in the messages, and sharing more than he usually did with strangers online.

PurpleKing: what do you actually like doing? when you're not being lazy

lazyninja: gaming i guess. and soccer sometimes

PurpleKing: soccer? what position

lazyninja: forward usually. you play?

PurpleKing: midfielder. been playing since i was little

lazyninja: cool. most people here just talk about anime

PurpleKing: nothing wrong with anime

lazyninja: true. just nice to find someone who gets sports

The conversation continued for another hour, jumping between topics—favorite games, worst teachers, the weird food in lazyninja's cafeteria. It was the kind of rambling late-night talk that felt both meaningless and deeply important at the same time.

lazyninja: this is probably weird but this is the most i've talked to someone in weeks

Reo stared at the message, feeling something twist in his chest. It wasn't weird at all—it was exactly how he felt too.

PurpleKing: not weird. same here actually

lazyninja: we're a pair of social disasters

PurpleKing: speak for yourself. i'm very popular

lazyninja: sure you are. that's why you're in an anonymous chat room at 1 AM

PurpleKing: touché

lazyninja: i'm gonna crash soon but this was cool

PurpleKing: yeah it was

lazyninja: you here most nights?

PurpleKing: more often than i should be

lazyninja: same. see you around then PurpleKing

PurpleKing: see you around lazyninja

After lazyninja logged off, Reo sat in the quiet of his room for a long moment. The house had gone silent downstairs—his parents' guests must have left. He closed the browser and finally headed to bed, but sleep didn't come easily. He kept thinking about the conversation, about how natural it had felt to talk to a complete stranger. How long had it been since he'd had a real conversation with someone his own age? Someone who wasn't trying to impress him or his family's money?

The next night, he found himself opening the same website again. And the night after that. Each time, he hoped to see that familiar username appear in the chat.
He didn't have to wait long.

–

Three days later, Reo found himself checking the time obsessively. 11:30 PM. Would lazyninja show up again tonight? They'd talked twice since that first conversation, and each time felt easier than the last. There was something addictive about having someone to talk to who didn't know anything about his family or expectations or future—someone who just treated him like a normal person.

PurpleKing has entered the chat

The main room was busier tonight. Reo scrolled through the messages, half-reading discussions about upcoming exams and weekend plans. Then he saw it:

lazyninja: PurpleKing you here

PurpleKing: hey

lazyninja: private chat?

Reo's heart did something weird in his chest. Private chat meant they'd move to a separate room, just the two of them. It felt like a step forward, somehow.

PurpleKing: sure

lazyninja has created a private room: Room #4847 PurpleKing has joined Room #4847

lazyninja: better. main chat was getting annoying

PurpleKing: yeah, lots of people complaining about midterms

lazyninja: speaking of which. you good at math

PurpleKing: depends. what kind

lazyninja: the kind where numbers hate me and i hate them back

PurpleKing: algebra? calculus?

lazyninja: basic algebra. told you i was lazy

Reo smiled at his screen. He'd been doing advanced calculus for two years now, but there was something endearing about lazyninja's casual admission of struggling with basics.

PurpleKing: want help?

lazyninja: you offering

PurpleKing: maybe. what's in it for me

lazyninja: my eternal gratitude and terrible jokes

PurpleKing: sold

For the next hour, Reo found himself walking lazyninja through basic algebraic equations. It was strange—he'd never enjoyed helping classmates with math before, but doing it through anonymous messages felt different. There was no judgment, no expectations. Just one person helping another figure out where X was hiding.

lazyninja: you're good at explaining stuff

PurpleKing: good tutors i guess

lazyninja: fancy school?

Reo hesitated. How much should he share?

PurpleKing: something like that

lazyninja: lucky. my school's cafeteria serves something they call curry but looks like mud

PurpleKing: boarding school?

lazyninja: dorm program. parents travel a lot for work so this was easier

PurpleKing: that must be lonely

lazyninja: used to it i guess. better than moving every few months

PurpleKing: my parents are home but might as well not be

lazyninja: business stuff

It wasn't really a question. Somehow lazyninja just seemed to understand.

PurpleKing: always business stuff

lazyninja: that sucks

PurpleKing: what about your parents? what kind of work

lazyninja: something with computers. honestly i stopped paying attention when they explained it

PurpleKing: very you

lazyninja: hey

PurpleKing: i mean that in a good way

lazyninja: sure you do

They talked until almost 2 AM again. About school, about the weird dreams lazyninja had been having, about the book Reo was reading for literature class. It was easy conversation, the kind where time seemed to disappear.

lazyninja: same time tomorrow

PurpleKing: probably yeah

lazyninja: cool. thanks for the math help

PurpleKing: anytime

—

By the end of the week, their late-night conversations had become routine. Reo would finish his homework, sit through dinner with his parents (when they were home), and then wait for 11:30 PM like it was an appointment he couldn't miss.

Tonight, lazyninja was already waiting in their private room when he logged on.

lazyninja: thought you weren't coming

PurpleKing: it's only 11:32

lazyninja: you're usually here by 11:30

PurpleKing: are you timing me

lazyninja: maybe

Reo found himself grinning at his screen. The idea that lazyninja was waiting for him, actually paying attention to when he showed up, made something warm settle in his chest.

PurpleKing: family dinner ran late

lazyninja: fun

PurpleKing: oh yeah. riveting conversation about quarterly reports

lazyninja: see this is why i eat cereal for dinner

PurpleKing: cereal

lazyninja: don't judge me. it's efficient

PurpleKing: i'm judging you so hard right now

lazyninja: what did you eat then mr fancy dinner

PurpleKing: salmon with some sauce i can't pronounce

lazyninja: show off

PurpleKing: it wasn't my choice. i would have preferred cereal honestly

lazyninja: you're just saying that

PurpleKing: i'm not. when's the last time you had lucky charms

lazyninja: this morning actually

PurpleKing: for breakfast

lazyninja: for all meals

PurpleKing: you're going to die of malnutrition

lazyninja: worth it

The conversation drifted to other topics. Lazyninja told him about his roommate who'd started bringing his girlfriend over constantly, and how he'd taken to sleeping in the common room just to avoid them. Reo found himself wishing he could offer his enormous empty house as an alternative.

PurpleKing: that sounds awful

lazyninja: eh. common room couch isn't that bad

PurpleKing: you shouldn't have to sleep on a couch

lazyninja: it's temporary. they'll get bored of each other eventually

PurpleKing: you sound sure

lazyninja: they've been dating for three weeks and already fighting constantly

PurpleKing: ah

lazyninja: what about you. any relationship drama

Reo stared at the question. He thought about the girls at school who flirted with him, who asked him to study groups and school dances. Who looked at him like he was a prize to be won rather than a person to know.

PurpleKing: not really

lazyninja: not really

PurpleKing: it's complicated

lazyninja: always is

PurpleKing: what about you

lazyninja: too lazy for relationships

PurpleKing: come on

lazyninja: i'm serious. they seem like a lot of work

PurpleKing: you make everything sound like work

lazyninja: because everything is work

PurpleKing: talking to me work

lazyninja: no

The quick response made Reo pause.

PurpleKing: no

lazyninja: this is different

PurpleKing: different how

lazyninja: don't know. just is

Reo stared at the screen, feeling that warm feeling in his chest again. He understood exactly what lazyninja meant, even if neither of them could put it into words.

PurpleKing: yeah. it is different

They stayed up until 3 AM that night, talking about nothing and everything. When Reo finally crawled into bed, he realized he'd been smiling for hours.

Chapter Text

Reo had been staring at his computer screen for twenty minutes, but the cursor in the chat box remained motionless. It was 11:45 PM—later than usual—and lazyninja was already waiting in their private room, but Reo couldn't bring himself to type anything.

The day had been awful from start to finish. First, his father had cornered him at breakfast with a lecture about "preparing for real responsibilities" and handed him a stack of business journals to read. Then his literature teacher had announced their final project would be presentations in front of the whole class—something that made Reo's stomach twist with anxiety despite usually being confident in social situations. But the worst part had been lunch, when he'd overheard two classmates talking about him.

"Mikage's so lucky, getting everything handed to him." "Right? Must be nice never having to worry about anything."

They weren't wrong, exactly. But they weren't right either, and Reo couldn't explain why without sounding ungrateful for privileges he knew most people would kill for.

lazyninja: you alive over there

PurpleKing: yeah sorry

lazyninja: rough day

It wasn't really a question. Somehow lazyninja could read his mood even through a computer screen.

PurpleKing: something like that

lazyninja: want to talk about it or want distraction

The simple question made Reo's throat feel tight. When was the last time someone had asked him what he actually wanted?

PurpleKing: talk maybe

lazyninja: okay. what happened

PurpleKing: nothing dramatic. just one of those days where everything feels wrong

lazyninja: those suck

PurpleKing: do you ever feel like people see you but don't actually see you

lazyninja: all the time

PurpleKing: how do you deal with it

lazyninja: badly mostly. but talking to you helps

Reo stared at the message, feeling something loosen in his chest.

PurpleKing: same

lazyninja: you want to tell me what specifically happened or just vent

PurpleKing: people at school were talking about how easy my life is

lazyninja: ah

PurpleKing: and they're not wrong but they're not right either if that makes sense

lazyninja: makes perfect sense

PurpleKing: does it

lazyninja: having money doesn't mean having it easy. different problems doesn't mean no problems

PurpleKing: exactly

PurpleKing: but i can't say that without sounding like a spoiled rich kid complaining

lazyninja: you're not complaining to them though. you're talking to me

PurpleKing: true

lazyninja: and for what it's worth i don't think you're spoiled

PurpleKing: you don't even know me

lazyninja: i know you stay up until 3am helping me with math homework
lazyninja: i know you ask how my day was before talking about yours
lazyninja: i know you worry about me sleeping on couches

PurpleKing: that's just basic decency

lazyninja: no it's not. most people don't actually listen

Reo found himself smiling slightly for the first time all day.

PurpleKing: thanks

lazyninja: anytime

lazyninja: want to hear about my roommate's latest disaster

PurpleKing: always

lazyninja: so he decided to cook dinner for his girlfriend right
lazyninja: except he's never cooked anything more complicated than instant noodles

PurpleKing: this can only end well

lazyninja: he somehow managed to set off the smoke alarm making pasta
lazyninja: PASTA
lazyninja: the fire department showed up

PurpleKing: no way

lazyninja: three trucks. full gear. for overcooked spaghetti

PurpleKing: how do you even overcook spaghetti that badly

lazyninja: he forgot about it and fell asleep

PurpleKing: while cooking

lazyninja: told you he was a disaster

By the time lazyninja finished the story, Reo was actually laughing. The tight feeling in his chest had eased, replaced by the familiar warmth of their conversations.

PurpleKing: your roommate might be worse at life than you are

lazyninja: hey

PurpleKing: i said might be

lazyninja: feeling better

PurpleKing: yeah actually

lazyninja: good. bad days suck but they don't last

PurpleKing: wise words from someone who eats cereal for every meal

lazyninja: cereal is wisdom food

PurpleKing: i'm pretty sure it's the opposite

lazyninja: don't question the cereal

They talked for another two hours, the conversation flowing easily from ridiculous roommate stories to favorite movies to whether aliens existed. By the time Reo finally logged off, the day's frustrations felt distant and manageable.

As he got ready for bed, he realized that this was the first time in months—maybe years—that someone had asked what he needed and actually listened to the answer. He fell asleep thinking about how lucky he was to have found lazyninja in that random chat room.

—

In his dorm room across the city, Seishiro stared at the ceiling long after their conversation ended, thinking about how different PurpleKing sounded when he was upset. How much he'd wanted to somehow reach through the screen and fix whatever was making him feel so alone.

It was a weird feeling for someone who usually couldn't be bothered to care about much of anything.

—

lazyninja: you play any online games

It was their usual 11:30 PM check-in, but tonight lazyninja had opened with an unexpected question. Reo minimized his economics homework and considered the answer.

PurpleKing: some. why

lazyninja: bored out of my mind. roommate and girlfriend are doing couple stuff again

PurpleKing: what kind of games

lazyninja: anything really. fps, rpgs, whatever. you have steam

PurpleKing: yeah

lazyninja: want to play something

Reo felt a flutter of excitement. They'd been talking for weeks now, but this felt like another step forward—actually doing something together instead of just chatting.

PurpleKing: sure. what did you have in mind

lazyninja: there's this co-op puzzle game. portal 2. pretty fun

PurpleKing: i have that one

lazyninja: cool. my steam username is... wait this is weird

PurpleKing: what

lazyninja: sharing usernames feels like a bigger deal than it should

PurpleKing: we don't have to if you don't want

lazyninja: no i do. just funny how we've been talking for weeks and don't know each other's names but we're about to game together

PurpleKing: we could share names

lazyninja: maybe someday. usernames first

PurpleKing: okay

lazyninja: mine's SeishiroN_99

Seishiro. It suited him somehow—the name felt as laid-back as his personality. Reo wondered what the N stood for.

PurpleKing: ReoM_04

lazyninja: reo's a cool name

PurpleKing: yours too

lazyninja: adding you now

Twenty minutes later, they were stumbling through Portal 2's co-op campaign, and Reo was laughing harder than he had in months. Seishiro's commentary through voice chat was even funnier than his text messages.

"Okay, so I'm supposed to shoot the orange portal where exactly?" Seishiro's voice was deeper than Reo had expected, with a hint of sleepiness that somehow made everything he said sound more relaxed.

"On the white wall behind the button," Reo said, trying to guide his character to the right position. "No, not that wall—the other white wall."

"They're all white walls, Reo."

"The one I'm pointing at!"

"You're pointing at everything."

"I'm pointing at one very specific—oh my god, you just walked into the pit."

"The pit came out of nowhere."

"It's literally been there the entire time."

"Sneaky pit."

They spent two hours working through puzzles, with Seishiro dying in increasingly creative ways and Reo alternating between helpful guidance and complete exasperation. It was the most fun Reo had had in ages.

"We should probably call it a night," Reo said eventually, glancing at the clock. "It's almost 2 AM."

"Yeah, probably. This was fun though."

"Definitely. Same time tomorrow?"

"For chat or gaming?"

"Both?"

"Works for me."

After they logged off, Reo found himself staring at Seishiro's Steam profile. There wasn't much information—just a library full of games and a achievements. But knowing his actual name, hearing his voice, seeing his gaming preferences... it felt like meeting him all over again.

–

The next night, they started with another gaming session—a simple racing game this time, which led to Seishiro somehow managing to drive backwards for an entire lap while insisting the track was designed wrong.

"It's not my fault the arrows are confusing," Seishiro said into his mic as his car spun in circles.

"The arrows point forward," Reo replied, lapping him for the third time.

"That's just, like, your opinion."

"It's literally the direction of the race."

"The race is a social construct."

"You're impossible."

After they finished gaming, they moved back to their usual text chat. Something about having heard each other's voices made the conversation feel more intimate, more real.

lazyninja: can i ask you something

PurpleKing: sure

lazyninja: you said your parents are never around. has it always been like that

Reo hesitated. They'd touched on family stuff before, but never gone deep.

PurpleKing: pretty much. they were around more when i was really little but even then it was nannies mostly

lazyninja: that must have been lonely

PurpleKing: i got used to it. had this one nanny who was great though. maria. she taught me how to play soccer

lazyninja: what happened to her

PurpleKing: parents decided i was too old for a nanny when i turned twelve. said i needed to be more independent

lazyninja: twelve's pretty young to be independent

PurpleKing: not in my family apparently

lazyninja: do you still talk to her

PurpleKing: no. parents thought it would be inappropriate

Reo stared at the screen, surprised by how much that still hurt to think about. Maria had been the closest thing to a parent he'd had, and then one day she was just gone.

lazyninja: that sucks

PurpleKing: what about you. you said your parents travel

lazyninja: yeah. they're tech consultants or something. always flying to different companies

PurpleKing: must be hard

lazyninja: honestly i prefer it. when they're around they stress about my grades and lecture me about motivation

PurpleKing: at least they care about your grades

lazyninja: do yours not

PurpleKing: they care that i don't embarrass the family. straight a's are expected not celebrated

lazyninja: pressure

PurpleKing: constant

lazyninja: is that why you're up so late every night

The question caught Reo off guard with its perceptiveness.

PurpleKing: maybe. daytime feels like it belongs to everyone else

lazyninja: nighttime's ours

Something about the way Seishiro phrased it—'ours'—made Reo's chest feel warm.

PurpleKing: yeah it is

lazyninja: i used to hate being alone

PurpleKing: used to

lazyninja: talking to you makes alone feel different

PurpleKing: different how

lazyninja: like chosen instead of forced

Reo understood exactly what he meant. These late-night conversations had become something he looked forward to, something that made the empty house feel less empty.

PurpleKing: i know what you mean

lazyninja: do you think we would have been friends if we met in real life

The question hung there for a moment. Reo thought about his classmates, about the way people looked at him when they learned his last name, about how different his life was from Seishiro's dorm room existence.

PurpleKing: i hope so

lazyninja: me too

lazyninja: though i probably would have been too lazy to actually talk to you

PurpleKing: and i probably would have been too worried about what people thought

lazyninja: we're both messes

PurpleKing: compatible messes

lazyninja: the best kind

They stayed up until almost 4 AM that night, sharing more stories about childhood, about feeling different from everyone around them, about the strange loneliness of being teenagers in situations most adults didn't understand. By the time they logged off, Reo felt like he knew Seishiro better than people he'd gone to school with for years.

And for the first time since Maria left, he felt like someone really knew him too.

Chapter Text

PurpleKing: hey quick question

lazyninja: shoot

PurpleKing: when's your birthday

It had been three weeks since they'd started gaming together regularly, and Reo had been thinking about it for days. He'd never asked before, but something about knowing Seishiro's voice and first name made him want to know more.

lazyninja: random question

PurpleKing: humor me

lazyninja: may 6th why

PurpleKing: just curious

lazyninja: when's yours

PurpleKing: august 12th

lazyninja: noted

Reo stared at the date. May 6th. That was... next week. He minimized the chat window and opened a new browser tab, an idea already forming.

PurpleKing: anything you want for your birthday

lazyninja: to sleep past noon without my roommate vacuuming

PurpleKing: besides that

lazyninja: don't really do birthday stuff anymore

PurpleKing: what do you mean

lazyninja: parents are usually traveling and roommate doesn't really know when it is

lazyninja: easier to just treat it like a normal day

Something twisted uncomfortably in Reo's chest. The idea of Seishiro spending his birthday alone, treating it like nothing special, felt wrong.

PurpleKing: that sucks

lazyninja: it's fine. birthdays are just days anyway

PurpleKing: no they're not

lazyninja: spoken like someone who probably gets big parties

Reo winced. He did get big parties—elaborate affairs with family friends and business associates that felt more like networking events than celebrations.

PurpleKing: big doesn't always mean good

lazyninja: fair point

lazyninja: anyway don't worry about it. just another tuesday

But Reo was already worrying about it. After they logged off that night, he spent an hour researching gaming keyboards and headsets, trying to figure out what someone like Seishiro might actually want.

—

A week later, Seishiro was trudging back from his morning classes when he found a package waiting at the dorm reception desk.

"Nagi Seishiro?" the desk attendant asked, checking the label.

"Yeah, that's me."

"Happy birthday," she said with a smile, handing over a medium-sized box.

Seishiro stared at it, confused. He hadn't ordered anything, and his parents certainly hadn't sent anything. The return address just showed a name he didn't recognize and a Tokyo address.

Back in his room, he opened the package carefully. Inside was a high-end gaming headset—the exact model he'd mentioned wanting during one of their late-night gaming sessions three weeks ago. There was also a card with neat handwriting:

"Birthdays should be special, even if you're too lazy to celebrate them properly. Happy Birthday, Seishiro. -Your favorite insomniac"

Seishiro sat on his bed holding the card, something warm and unfamiliar spreading through his chest. No one had remembered his birthday in years, let alone gotten him a gift this thoughtful.

That night, he was waiting in their chat room earlier than usual.

lazyninja: okay so hypothetically

PurpleKing: hypothetically

lazyninja: if someone got you a really good present

PurpleKing: yeah

lazyninja: how would you thank them

PurpleKing: depends on the present

lazyninja: gaming headset. really nice one. exactly what they mentioned wanting

PurpleKing: sounds like someone paid attention

lazyninja: sounds like someone is really thoughtful

PurpleKing: did you like it

lazyninja: reo

It was the first time Seishiro had used his actual name in chat, and something about seeing it there made Reo's heart skip.

lazyninja: how did you even remember i mentioned that

PurpleKing: i remember everything you tell me

lazyninja: that's... really sweet
lazyninja: no one's ever done anything like this for me

PurpleKing: everyone deserves to feel special on their birthday

lazyninja: thank you
lazyninja: seriously. this means a lot

PurpleKing: you're welcome

lazyninja: want to test it out

They spent the next three hours gaming with Seishiro's new headset, and Reo couldn't help but smile every time Seishiro mentioned how much clearer everything sounded.

"The audio quality is insane," Seishiro said over voice chat as they navigated through another co-op puzzle game. "I can hear everything."

"Good. You needed an upgrade from whatever ancient thing you were using before."

"Hey, my old headset had character."

"Your old headset had static."

"Character," Seishiro repeated stubbornly, but Reo could hear the smile in his voice.

After they finished gaming, they switched back to text chat like always. But something felt different now—warmer, more connected.

lazyninja: so this might sound weird

PurpleKing: everything you say sounds weird

lazyninja: rude but fair
lazyninja: i was thinking maybe we could try calling sometime

PurpleKing: calling

lazyninja: like phone calls. voice chat but without games
lazyninja: just talking

Reo felt his heart speed up. They'd been voice chatting during games for weeks, but this felt different. More intimate somehow.

PurpleKing: i'd like that

lazyninja: yeah

PurpleKing: yeah

lazyninja: cool
lazyninja: maybe tomorrow

PurpleKing: it's a date

Reo typed it without thinking, then immediately felt his face flush. It was just an expression, but suddenly it felt loaded with meaning he wasn't ready to examine.

lazyninja: looking forward to it

If Seishiro noticed anything weird about the phrasing, he didn't mention it. But as Reo got ready for bed that night, he couldn't stop thinking about how Seishiro had sounded when he said thank you—soft and genuine and happy.
And he couldn't stop thinking about tomorrow's call.

—
Reo was halfway through his lunch when someone slid into the seat across from him. He looked up from his phone—where he'd been reading Seishiro's complaints about his roommate's latest cooking disaster—to find a guy with long reddish hair tied back in a ponytail, looking slightly annoyed.

"Mind if I sit here?" the stranger asked, though he was already seated. "Everywhere else is full of people asking stupid questions."

"Uh, sure," Reo said, quickly closing his messages. "I'm Reo."

"Chigiri Hyoma. Just transferred here." Chigiri unwrapped his sandwich with careful precision. "You're in my literature class, right? Advanced placement?"

"Yeah, that's me. How are you finding the school so far?"

Chigiri made a face. "Everyone keeps asking me about my hair, my old school, and whether I play any sports. It's exhausting."

Reo laughed. "Sports question hit a nerve?"

"I used to play soccer. Had to quit." Chigiri's expression darkened slightly. "Knee injury. But apparently 'I don't play anymore' isn't a clear enough answer for some people."

"That sucks. I play soccer too—well, still play. Sorry people are being invasive about it."

"You're the first person who's just accepted that answer, actually." Chigiri looked at him with something like approval. "Most people want the whole tragic backstory."

They fell into easy conversation after that. Chigiri was sharp, funny in a dry way that reminded Reo a little of Seishiro, and refreshingly direct. When lunch ended, they walked to literature class together, and when their teacher assigned them as partners for the next project, neither of them complained.

Over the next few weeks, Chigiri became a regular fixture in Reo's daily life. They sat together at lunch, worked on assignments together, and Chigiri even came over to Reo's house a few times to study. It was nice having a real friend at school for the first time in... well, maybe ever.

The only weird thing was how much Reo found himself talking about Seishiro.

"So this friend of mine," Reo said one afternoon as they worked on their literature project in his room, "he's convinced his roommate is going to burn down their dorm."

"The online friend?" Chigiri asked without looking up from his notes. "Seishiro, right?"

"Yeah. And honestly, based on the stories, I think he might be right. Last week the guy tried to make rice and somehow flooded their bathroom."

"How do you flood a bathroom making rice?"

"That's exactly what I asked! Apparently the rice cooker overflowed, he panicked and tried to move it to the bathroom sink, and—"

"Reo," Chigiri interrupted, looking amused. "You realize you bring this guy up in like every conversation, right?"

Reo paused, his pen hovering over his notebook. "I do not."

"Yesterday you compared our chemistry teacher to 'something Seishiro would say about lazy teaching methods.' On Monday it was 'Seishiro would find this book assignment ridiculous.' And don't get me started on how you lit up when your phone buzzed during lunch."

"I don't light up," Reo protested, feeling his cheeks warm.

"You absolutely light up. It's like watching someone get a text from their—" Chigiri stopped, studying Reo's face with interest. "How long have you been talking to this guy?"

"A few months. Since February."

"And you've never met him?"

"No, we just chat online and game together. And call sometimes." Reo found himself smiling without meaning to. "We started calling after his birthday. It's nice, just talking without the game sounds in the background."

"Right." Chigiri's tone was carefully neutral. "Just talking."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just that you seem... really close for people who've never met."

Reo felt defensive, though he wasn't sure why. "We are close. He's easy to talk to."

"I'm sure he is." Chigiri went back to his notes, but Reo caught the small smile on his face.

That night, during their usual call, Reo found himself more aware than usual of how comfortable he felt talking to Seishiro.

"—and then Chigiri said I talk about you too much," Reo was saying, sprawled across his bed with his phone pressed to his ear. "Which is ridiculous, right?"

"Mm," Seishiro hummed sleepily. "Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Talk about me too much."

"I... well, I mean, you're interesting. Your roommate stories are entertaining."

"Just my roommate stories?" There was something in Seishiro's voice that Reo couldn't identify.

"No, not just those. Everything, I guess. You're funny. And you have good opinions about things."

"Good opinions," Seishiro repeated, and Reo could practically hear him smiling. "High praise."

"Shut up. You know what I mean."

"I do." Seishiro's voice went softer. "For what it's worth, I probably talk about you too much too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. My roommate's started rolling his eyes whenever I mention 'my friend Reo.'"
Something warm settled in Reo's chest at being called Seishiro's friend, even though that's obviously what they were.

"Speaking of your roommate," Reo said, "any new disasters?"

"Actually, things have been weirdly quiet. I think his girlfriend finally convinced him to stick to ordering takeout."

"Probably for the best."

"Definitely for the best. I was running out of places to sleep when he set off the smoke alarm."

They talked for another hour, their conversation drifting from roommate stories to classes to random thoughts about everything and nothing. When they finally hung up, Reo lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying the way Seishiro had said "my friend Reo" with something that sounded almost fond.

Maybe Chigiri had a point about him talking about Seishiro too much. But if he did, well... Seishiro was worth talking about.

—

lazyninja: so remember how i said my roommate was a disaster

PurpleKing: the cooking fires guy yeah

lazyninja: well he graduated and moved out

PurpleKing: that's good right? no more smoke alarms

lazyninja: you'd think so
lazyninja: new roommate moved in yesterday

PurpleKing: and

lazyninja: his name is isagi and he's LOUD

Reo laughed, adjusting his phone against his ear. It was their usual call time, but tonight Seishiro sounded more awake than usual—probably because he was annoyed.

"Define loud," Reo said.

"He talks to himself when he studies. Like full conversations with his textbooks. 'Oh that's interesting!' 'Wait, that doesn't make sense!' 'Come on, you can figure this out, Isagi!'"

"That's... actually kind of endearing?"

"It's 2 AM, Reo. He was having a full debate with his chemistry homework."

"Okay, that's less endearing."

"And he exercises. At 6 AM. In our room."

"What kind of exercises?"

"I don't know, I was pretending to be asleep. But there was a lot of grunting and what sounded like jumping jacks."

Reo tried not to laugh. "Maybe he's just enthusiastic about fitness."

"Enthusiastic about ruining my sleep schedule, more like."

"You barely sleep anyway."

"That's different. That's my choice. This is... forced morning consciousness."

"The horror," Reo said dryly.

"Don't mock my suffering." But Seishiro sounded more amused than actually annoyed. "He seems nice enough, I guess. Just... energetic."

"What's he studying?"

"Sports science, I think? He mentioned something about biomechanics and muscle development. And he definitely plays soccer—I saw cleats and shin guards in his stuff."

"Soccer?" Reo perked up. "Maybe you guys will have something in common."

"Maybe. If I can stay awake long enough to have a conversation with him."

Three days later, Seishiro's assessment of his roommate had... evolved.

"Okay so maybe he's not that bad," Seishiro admitted during their call.

"What changed?"

"He brought me coffee this morning. Good coffee. And when I mentioned I was tired because I'd been up gaming, he actually seemed interested instead of judgy."

"See? Maybe you'll even become friends."

"Let's not get crazy," Seishiro said, but his tone was lighter. "He did ask if he could watch me play sometime though. Said he'd never seen anyone play the games I do."

"That's sweet."

"I guess. He's just very... I don't know how to describe it. Earnest? Like everything he does matters to him."

"Sounds like a good quality to have in a roommate."

"Better than setting the kitchen on fire, definitely."

Two weeks later, during their regular text chat session, Seishiro's tune had changed again.

lazyninja: i need to vent

PurpleKing: what happened

lazyninja: so you know how isagi is into soccer

PurpleKing: yeah

lazyninja: well he joined some local club team and made a friend

PurpleKing: good for him

lazyninja: this friend comes over constantly

PurpleKing: ah

lazyninja: his name is bachira and he's even MORE energetic than isagi
lazyninja: if that's even possible

PurpleKing: what's he like

lazyninja: imagine a golden retriever that learned how to talk
lazyninja: and never stops talking
lazyninja: and bounces

PurpleKing: bounces

lazyninja: he literally bounces when he walks
lazyninja: and he's ALWAYS here
lazyninja: they study together
lazyninja: practice together
lazyninja: eat together
lazyninja: i'm pretty sure bachira just lives here now

PurpleKing: sounds like they're close

lazyninja: close is one word for it

PurpleKing: what's that supposed to mean

lazyninja: reo they're so obvious it's painful

PurpleKing: obvious about what

lazyninja: are you serious

PurpleKing: what

lazyninja: they're clearly into each other
lazyninja: bachira looks at isagi like he hung the moon
lazyninja: isagi gets this dopey smile whenever bachira laughs
lazyninja: yesterday bachira fell asleep on isagi's shoulder while they were watching a movie and isagi just sat there for THREE HOURS
lazyninja: didn't even move to get a drink

PurpleKing: maybe they're just really good friends

lazyninja: reo

PurpleKing: what

lazyninja: good friends don't stare at each other like that
lazyninja: good friends don't find excuses to touch each other constantly
lazyninja: good friends don't have inside jokes that make them both blush

PurpleKing: okay maybe you have a point

lazyninja: and the worst part is they're both completely oblivious
lazyninja: like they clearly like each other but neither of them will just SAY anything
lazyninja: it's driving me insane

PurpleKing: why does it bother you so much

lazyninja: because i have to live with it
lazyninja: do you know what it's like watching two people pine after each other when they're in the same room
lazyninja: it's exhausting
lazyninja: just ask him out already

PurpleKing: maybe they're scared of ruining the friendship

lazyninja: or maybe they're just idiots

PurpleKing: harsh

lazyninja: but accurate

Reo stared at his phone, something nagging at the back of his mind. There was an edge to Seishiro's complaints that seemed like more than just annoyance at his roommate's love life.

PurpleKing: have you talked to isagi about it

lazyninja: what would i say
lazyninja: hey your friend is obviously crazy about you and you're clearly into him too so maybe do something about it

PurpleKing: maybe more subtle than that

lazyninja: subtle isn't really my thing

PurpleKing: fair point

lazyninja: whatever
lazyninja: as long as they don't start being even MORE obvious i can deal with it
lazyninja: probably

PurpleKing: you'll survive

lazyninja: barely

Despite his complaining, Reo could tell that Seishiro actually liked his new living situation.
His stories about Isagi and Bachira were fond underneath the exasperation, and he'd mentioned more than once how nice it was to have people around who actually wanted to hang out with him.

Even if watching them navigate their obvious feelings for each other was apparently torture.

Chapter Text

"So," Chigiri said, settling into his usual spot at Reo's lunch table, "when do I get to meet this famous Seishiro?"

Reo nearly choked on his drink. "What?"

"You heard me. You've been talking about this guy for months, we've become actual friends, and I've never even heard his voice." Chigiri unwrapped his sandwich with deliberate precision, as he seemed to have a habit of doing. "I'm starting to think you made him up."

"Why would I make up a friend?"

"I don't know. Maybe you're secretly lonely and created an elaborate fictional persona to—"

"Okay, okay, point made." Reo laughed despite himself. "He's real, I promise."

"Prove it."

"How exactly am I supposed to prove that?"

"Video call. Tonight. I want to meet this mysterious online friend who's apparently hilarious and thoughtful and has 'really nice voice.'" Chigiri smirked. "Yes, you said that. Last week."

Reo felt his cheeks warm. "I don't think he'd be up for that."

"Why not? Is he embarrassed by you?"

"No! It's just... we've never done video calls. Just voice calls and gaming."

"Even more reason to suggest it." Chigiri leaned back in his chair. "Unless you're the one who's embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed," Reo protested, though something in his stomach was doing weird flips at the thought of actually seeing Seishiro's face.

"Then ask him."

That night, during their usual call, Reo found himself fidgeting more than usual.

"You're quiet tonight," Seishiro observed. "Something wrong?"

"Not wrong exactly. Just... my friend Chigiri wants to meet you."

"The transfer student? The one who called you out for talking about me too much?"

"That's the one." Reo took a breath. "He suggested a video call. Like, the three of us."

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Video call," Seishiro repeated slowly.

"I know we've never done video before, so if you don't want to—"

"No, it's fine. Just caught me off guard." Another pause. "Are you okay with video calling?"

"I... yeah. I think so. It might be nice to actually see you when we talk."

"Yeah," Seishiro said quietly. "It would be nice."

They arranged to try it the next evening. Reo spent an embarrassing amount of time that day thinking about what to wear—which was ridiculous, because it was just Seishiro, and they'd been talking for months, and it shouldn't matter what he looked like.

But somehow it did matter.

At 8 PM, Reo opened up his laptop and started a video call. His own face appeared in the small window, and he immediately started second-guessing everything about his appearance. Did his hair look okay? Was the lighting weird?

The call connected, and suddenly Seishiro's face filled the screen.

Reo's brain went completely blank.

Seishiro was... well, he was beautiful. White hair that looked perpetually messy in the best way, sleepy gray eyes, sharp features that somehow managed to look both lazy and elegant at the same time. He was wearing a simple black hoodie and looked like he'd just woken up from a nap, but even that was somehow perfect.

"Reo?" Seishiro's voice came through the speakers, matching the slight smile on his face.
"You there?"

"Yeah, sorry, I—" Reo cleared his throat, hoping his face wasn't as red as it felt. "Hi."

"Hi yourself." Seishiro's smile widened. "You look different than I imagined."

"Different how?"

"Less purple, for one thing."

Reo laughed, some of his nervousness fading. "Sorry to disappoint. Should I have worn a crown?"

"Maybe next time, Your Majesty."

They were settling into their usual easy conversation when another notification popped up—Chigiri joining the call.

"Well, well," Chigiri said as his video connected, taking in both of them with obvious interest. "So you do exist."

"Unfortunately," Seishiro replied dryly. "You must be Chigiri. Reo's told me about you."

"Has he now? All good things, I hope."

"Mostly complaints about you being too observant."

Chigiri grinned. "I like him already, Reo."

The three of them talked for about an hour. Chigiri grilled Seishiro with questions that somehow managed to be invasive and charming at the same time, while Seishiro answered with his characteristic lazy honesty. Reo found himself mostly watching Seishiro's expressions as he talked, fascinated by the way his eyes lit up when he was amused or how he had a habit of running his hand through his hair when he was thinking.

"So," Chigiri said eventually, "Reo tells me you're dealing with some roommate drama."

"Roommate drama is putting it mildly," Seishiro sighed. "My roommate Isagi and his friend Bachira are driving me insane with their mutual pining."

"Ah, the classic 'everyone can see it but them' situation."

"Exactly. And I have to live with it."

Chigiri made a strange face, but when Reo blinked it was gone.
"Have you tried locking them in a closet together?" Chigiri suggested. "That works in movies."

"Tempting, but probably illegal."

"Details," Chigiri waved dismissively. "What about introducing them to other people? Make them jealous?"

"That seems unnecessarily complicated."

"Or," Reo interjected, "you could just talk to one of them. Like, as a friend."

Both Seishiro and Chigiri looked at him through the screen.

"That's... actually reasonable advice," Chigiri said, sounding surprised.

"Don't sound so shocked," Reo protested.

"It's just usually your solutions involve throwing money at problems."

"I don't—"

"The birthday present," Chigiri said pointedly.

"That was thoughtful!" Reo looked to Seishiro for support. "Right?"

"It was very thoughtful," Seishiro agreed, and something in his expression made Reo's chest feel warm. "Best birthday I've had in years."

"See?" Reo said to Chigiri, then paused as he processed what Seishiro had said. "Wait, years?"

Seishiro shrugged, looking suddenly uncomfortable. "My parents aren't really around for birthdays, I told you. Usually I just ignore the date."

"That's terrible," Chigiri said bluntly. "Birthdays should be celebrated."

"That's what Reo said."

"Smart man. You should listen to him more often."

"I always listen to him," Seishiro said, and there was something soft in his voice that made Reo's heart skip. "He has good ideas."

They talked for another half hour before Chigiri announced he had to go finish an essay.
After he logged off, it was just Reo and Seishiro again, the video call feeling suddenly more intimate.

"Your friend seems nice," Seishiro said. "Nosy, but nice."

"He liked you too. I could tell."

"Good. I was trying to make a good impression."

"Why?"

Seishiro was quiet for a moment, his fingers playing with the strings of his hoodie. "Because you care about his opinion. And I care about you."

The simple honesty of it hit Reo like a physical blow. "Seishiro..."

"What?"

"Nothing. Just... me too. I care about you too."

Seishiro smiled—really smiled, not just his usual lazy half-smirk, or what he thought wa s usual, from what he’d seen so far—and Reo felt something shift in his chest. Something that felt dangerous and wonderful and terrifying all at once.

They talked for another hour, but Reo barely remembered what about. He was too busy memorizing the way Seishiro looked when he laughed, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, the way he said Reo's name like it meant something special.

When they finally said goodnight, Reo stared at his reflection in the black screen for a long moment, his heart still racing.

He was in so much trouble.

—

After the video call, something changed between Reo and Seishiro. Not dramatically—they still talked every night, still gamed together, still shared their daily disasters and small victories. But now Reo found himself looking forward to their calls in a way that felt different, more intense. He'd catch himself smiling at nothing when Seishiro laughed, or replaying moments from their conversations at random times during the day.

It was becoming a problem.

"You're distracted again," Chigiri observed, snapping his fingers in front of Reo's face during lunch. "Let me guess—thinking about your boyfriend?"

"He's not my—" Reo started automatically, then stopped. "We're just friends."

"Right. And I'm secretly a professional soccer player."

"You were a professional soccer player."

"I was not professional, and that's not the point." Chigiri stole one of Reo's chips. "The point is you've been in your own little world ever since that video call three days ago."

"I have not."

"Yesterday you agreed that our literature essay should be about the mating habits of penguins."

"I was listening to you!"

"We're reading Hamlet, Reo."

Reo opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. Okay, maybe Chigiri had a point.

"It's just weird," he said finally. "Seeing him face to face, even through a screen. It made everything feel more real."

"More real how?"

Reo struggled to find the words. How could he explain that seeing Seishiro's expressions, watching the way he moved, had somehow made all their late-night conversations click into place? That he'd spent the last three nights lying awake thinking about the soft way Seishiro had said "I care about you"?

"I don't know," he said lamely. "Just... more."

Chigiri studied him with knowing eyes. "You know, there's a word for when you can't stop thinking about someone, when talking to them is the best part of your day, when seeing their face makes your heart race—"

"Don't."

"I'm just saying—"

"Chigiri. Don't."

"Fine, fine. But when you're ready to admit the obvious, I'll be here to say I told you so."

That night, during their usual call, Seishiro seemed more subdued than normal. He was sprawled across his bed, laptop propped on his chest, looking tired.

"Long day?" Reo asked, settling into his desk chair with his own laptop.

"Isagi and Bachira had another one of their moments," Seishiro sighed. "This time Bachira literally fell off his chair laughing at something Isagi said, and when Isagi helped him up, they just... stared at each other for like thirty seconds."

"And then?"

"Then Bachira mumbled something about needing to go study and practically ran out of the room. Isagi spent the next hour asking me if I thought he'd said something wrong."

"What did you tell him?"

"That he's an idiot." Seishiro ran a hand through his hair. "I'm about ready to lock them in a closet like your friend suggested."

"Maybe you should just talk to him. Like, really talk to him."

"About what? 'Hey, your best friend is obviously in love with you and you're too dense to notice'?"

"Maybe more subtle than that."

"I tried subtle. Yesterday I asked him what he thought about Bachira, and he spent twenty minutes telling me about Bachira's 'incredible soccer instincts' and 'unique way of seeing the world.' When I asked if he'd ever thought about dating him, he said Bachira was 'too good a friend to risk it.'"

"Ouch."

"Right? Meanwhile, Bachira asked me the same thing about Isagi and went on this whole rambling thing about how Isagi is 'amazing' and 'brilliant' and 'probably wouldn't want someone weird like me.'"

"They're both idiots."

"The biggest idiots." Seishiro shifted on his bed, the camera angle changing slightly. "It's exhausting watching two people who are perfect for each other convince themselves they don't have a chance."

Something in his tone made Reo look at him more carefully. "You sound like you're taking this personally."

"I'm not taking it personally. I just..." Seishiro paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. "I don't understand how people can be so blind to what's right in front of them."

"Maybe they're scared," Reo suggested. "Fear makes people stupid sometimes."

"Fear of what?"

"Ruining what they have. Losing someone important. Being vulnerable." Reo found himself thinking about his own situation as he spoke. "Sometimes it's easier to keep things the way they are than risk changing everything."

Seishiro was quiet for a long moment, his gray eyes studying Reo's face through the screen.

"That's a pretty depressing way to live," he said finally.

"Yeah," Reo agreed softly. "It is."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. Then Seishiro straightened up slightly.

"You know what? Screw subtle. I'm going to fix this."

"What are you going to do?"

"I have no idea yet, but I'm tired of watching them be miserable. They deserve to be happy."

"Just... don't do anything too dramatic, okay? Some people need to figure things out at their own pace."

"Says the guy who sent me a birthday present after knowing me for two months."

"That was different."

"How?"

Reo opened his mouth, then closed it. How was it different? Because he'd wanted to make Seishiro happy? Because the thought of him spending his birthday alone had felt wrong? Because even then, Seishiro had meant something special to him?

"It just was," he said weakly.

Seishiro smiled—that soft, genuine smile that always made Reo's heart skip. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you're not the type to keep things the same forever."

"What do you mean?"

"You could have just kept things to text chats. Never shared your real name, never sent gifts, never done video calls. But you didn't. You kept... pushing forward. Making things more real."

"I wanted to know you better," Reo said honestly. "I still do."

"Good," Seishiro said quietly. "Because I want you to know me. All of me."

The weight of those words settled between them, heavy with meaning that neither of them was quite ready to examine. They talked for another hour after that, but Reo found himself distracted by the way Seishiro had looked when he said "all of me"—hopeful and vulnerable and something else that made Reo's chest feel tight.

Later, as he was getting ready for bed, his phone buzzed with a message from Chigiri:
"So when are you going to tell him you're in love with him?"

Reo stared at the message for a long time before typing back:
"We're just friends."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Reo turned off his phone without responding, but he lay awake for hours thinking about Seishiro's smile and the way he'd said "I want you to know me."

Maybe Chigiri had a point. Maybe he was more than a little in love with his best friend.

And honestly, that was terrifying.

Chapter Text

Seishiro had never considered himself a matchmaker. In fact, he'd never considered himself someone who got involved in other people's business at all. But watching Isagi stare longingly at Bachira while Bachira drew hearts in the margins of his notebook (hearts that he frantically scribbled out whenever Isagi looked his way) was testing the limits of his patience.

Something had to be done.

"So," Seishiro said during lunch, when Bachira had gone to get more napkins and Isagi was watching him like a lovesick puppy, "Bachira's been around a lot lately."

"Yeah," Isagi said, snapping back to attention. "I hope that's okay? I know he's not your roommate and—"

"It's fine. He's... entertaining."

"He really is." Isagi's face lit up in that dopey smile Seishiro had mentioned to Reo. "He sees the world so differently, you know? Like yesterday he said the way I organize my study materials reminds him of a soccer formation, and somehow that actually made sense?"

"Uh-huh. And you like that about him?"

"Of course. Bachira's amazing. He's creative and funny and—" Isagi paused, seeming to realize he was gushing. "I mean, as a friend. Obviously."

"Obviously," Seishiro repeated flatly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just that it's obvious you think he's great."

"Because he is great! Anyone would think—"

"Anyone would think what?"

Isagi opened his mouth, then closed it, looking flustered. "Just... anyone would be lucky to be his friend."

Seishiro was about to push further when Bachira bounced back to their table, somehow managing to trip over nothing and catch himself at the last second.

"What'd I miss?" Bachira asked, sliding into his seat and immediately stealing one of Isagi's french fries.

"Isagi was just telling me how lucky he is to be your friend," Seishiro said innocently.

Bachira's eyes went wide, and he turned to look at Isagi with something that could only be described as hope. "Really?"

"I— yes, of course," Isagi stammered, his cheeks going red. "You're a great friend, Bachira."

"Just friend?" The words slipped out before Bachira could stop them, and immediately his face went bright red. "I mean— of course just friends! Why would I— friends is good! Friends is great! I love being friends!"

The two of them stared at each other for a moment, both looking mortified, before simultaneously turning to focus very intently on their food.

Seishiro wanted to bang his head against the table.

That night, during his call with Reo, he recounted the painful lunch conversation in detail.

"They were so close," he groaned, flopping back on his bed. "Bachira literally asked if they were 'just friends' and then immediately backtracked."

"Maybe he got scared," Reo suggested. He was at his desk again, chin propped on his hand as he listened. "Putting yourself out there is terrifying."

"But Isagi looked like he wanted to say something too! And then they both just... gave up."

"Fear makes people do stupid things. We talked about this."

"This is beyond stupid. This is—" Seishiro paused, studying Reo's expression through the screen. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you think I'm missing something obvious."

"I don't think you're missing anything," Reo said, but there was something in his tone that suggested otherwise.

"Reo."

"What?"

"You're doing that thing where you know something I don't."

"I'm not doing anything. I'm just saying maybe you should consider that some people need more time to work up the courage."

"How much time? They've been dancing around each other for months."

"However long it takes." Reo's voice went softer. "Some things are worth waiting for."

Something in his expression made Seishiro's chest feel tight, but before he could figure out what, his door burst open.

"Nagi!" Bachira practically bounced into the room, then stopped short when he saw the laptop. "Oh, sorry, are you on a call?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Is that Reo?" Bachira's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Isagi told me about him! Can I say hi?"

Before Seishiro could object, Bachira had launched himself onto the bed and was waving at the laptop screen. "Hi Reo! I'm Bachira!"

"Oh," Reo blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Hi Bachira. Seishiro's told me about you."

"All good things, I hope!"

"Mostly complaints about you and Isagi being ridiculous," Seishiro said dryly.

"Hey!" Bachira protested. "We're not ridiculous!"

"Yesterday you walked into a door because you were staring at Isagi."

"That door came out of nowhere!"

"It's been there for three years, Bachira."

Reo was laughing, and the sound made both Seishiro and Bachira turn to look at the screen. "You two are funny together," Reo said. "I can see why Isagi likes having you around, Bachira."

"You think so?" Bachira's entire face lit up. "Isagi's the best! He's so smart and dedicated and—" He stopped, seeming to realize what he was doing. "I mean, as a friend! Obviously!"

"Obviously," Seishiro and Reo said in unison, and Reo's knowing look through the screen made Seishiro want to throw a pillow at the laptop.

"Why does everyone keep saying it like that?" Bachira asked, looking genuinely confused.

"No reason," Seishiro lied. "Shouldn't you be studying or something?"

"Probably. But studying is boring and you were talking to your boyfriend!" Bachira paused. "Wait, is Reo your boyfriend? Isagi wasn't sure but—"

"He's not my boyfriend," Seishiro said quickly, not looking at the screen. "We're friends."

"Oh." Bachira looked between Seishiro and the laptop with obvious confusion. "But you talk to him every night, and you smile differently when he texts, and yesterday when that girl in your chemistry class asked if you were single you said 'it's complicated' and—"

"Bachira."

"What?"

"Get out."

"But—"

"Out."

Bachira pouted but climbed off the bed. "Fine, but for the record, you're both being ridiculous too." He waved at the laptop again. "Nice meeting you, Reo! Maybe we can all hang out sometime!"

After he left, Seishiro and Reo sat in awkward silence for a moment.

"So," Reo said eventually, "you told someone we were complicated?"

"I didn't mean— it just seemed easier than explaining the whole online friendship thing."

"Right. Of course." Reo's voice was carefully neutral. "That makes sense."

"Does it bother you?"

"What?"

"That I said it was complicated?"

Reo was quiet for a long moment, and Seishiro found himself holding his breath waiting for the answer.

"No," Reo said finally. "I guess... some things are complicated."

"Yeah," Seishiro agreed softly. "They are."

They managed to get back to normal conversation after that, but something had shifted again. When they said goodnight, Seishiro found himself staring at his reflection in the black screen, Bachira's words echoing in his head.

You smile differently when he texts.

Did he? And if he did... what did that mean?

Across the city, Reo was having similar thoughts, Bachira's innocent question playing on repeat: Is Reo your boyfriend?

The immediate denial had stung more than it should have. But what had hurt worse was his own relief when Seishiro called their relationship "complicated" instead of just "friendship."
Because maybe, complicated meant there was room for something more.

—
"You're distracted again," Chigiri observed, not looking up from his literature notes. They were sitting in Reo's room, supposedly working on their group project, but Reo had spent the last ten minutes staring at his phone and replaying last night's conversation with Seishiro.

"I'm not distracted."

"You just highlighted the same sentence four times." Chigiri finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Let me guess—Seishiro?"

"His roommate's friend called me his boyfriend last night," Reo blurted out, then immediately regretted it.

Chigiri's pen stopped moving. "And?"

"And Seishiro said we weren't together, we were just friends."

"Ouch."

"But then he told the guy our relationship was 'complicated.'"

"Interesting." Chigiri set down his pen entirely, giving Reo his full attention. "And how do you feel about that?"

"Confused. Hopeful. Terrified." Reo flopped back on his bed. "I don't know what 'complicated' means."

"It means he doesn't think you're just friends either."

"Or it means he was trying to avoid explaining our whole online friendship situation."

"Reo." Chigiri's voice was patient but firm. "Normal people don't call friendships complicated unless there are feelings involved."

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm not an emotionally oblivious disaster like you are." Chigiri paused. "Also, I might have some experience with complicated relationships."

"What do you mean?"

Chigiri was quiet for a moment, seeming to weigh his words. "I've been seeing someone. For a few months now."

"What?" Reo sat up so fast he nearly fell off the bed. "Since when? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it was complicated at first." Chigiri's mouth quirked up in a small smile. "His name is Kunigami. We met at physical therapy."

"Physical therapy?"

"For my knee. He was there for a shoulder injury from soccer." Chigiri's expression softened in a way Reo had never seen before. "He was... patient with me. When I was angry about not being able to play anymore, when I was frustrated with the exercises. He just listened."

"That sounds nice."

"It was. It is." Chigiri ran a hand through his hair. "The complicated part was that we were both dealing with our own shit. Injuries, lost dreams, figuring out who we were if we weren't soccer players anymore."

"But you figured it out?"

"We talked about it. Like, really talked. About what we wanted, what scared us, what we were feeling." Chigiri looked at Reo pointedly. "Communication is kind of important in relationships."

"I communicate with Seishiro all the time."

"About everything except the fact that you're in love with him."

Reo opened his mouth to deny it, then closed it. What was the point? Chigiri could see right through him anyway.

"What if I mess it up?" Reo asked quietly. "What if I tell him how I feel and it ruins everything?"

"What if you don't tell him and spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if'?"

Before Reo could answer, his phone buzzed with a text from Seishiro.
"Isagi just asked me if I thought Bachira would ever like him as more than a friend. I'm going to lose my mind."

Reo showed Chigiri the message, and they both stared at it for a moment.

"The irony is painful," Chigiri said finally.

"Tell me about it."

"You know what you should do?"

"What?"

"Introduce me and Kunigami to Seishiro and his friends. Double date style."

"It's not a date if we're not actually dating."

"Details. The point is, maybe seeing a functional relationship will give both you and Seishiro some perspective."

"I don't know..."

"Come on. What's the worst that could happen?"

That night, during their call, Reo found himself bringing up Chigiri's suggestion.

"So Chigiri mentioned wanting to meet more of my friends," he said, trying to sound casual.
"And he's been dating this guy Kunigami for a while now. I was thinking maybe we could all hang out sometime? Like a group video call?"

Seishiro was lying on his stomach, chin propped on his hands. "Your friend has a boyfriend?"

"Yeah. They met in physical therapy apparently. Seem really happy together."

"That's nice." Seishiro paused. "What's he like? Kunigami?"

"I haven't met him yet, but from what Chigiri says, he's thoughtful. Patient. Good listener." Reo smiled. "Makes Chigiri happy, which is what matters."

"It must be nice," Seishiro said quietly, "having someone who understands you like that."

"Yeah," Reo agreed, looking at Seishiro's face on his screen. "It must be."

They arranged the group call for the weekend. Reo spent Friday evening more nervous than he cared to admit, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Saturday night, he opened his laptop to find Chigiri already in the call, along with a guy with orange hair and kind eyes—Kunigami, presumably. A few minutes later, Seishiro joined, followed quickly by Isagi and Bachira, who had apparently invited themselves.

"This is cozy," Bachira announced, grinning at all the faces on his screen. "It's like a party!"

"More like a circus," Seishiro muttered, but he was smiling.

The introductions went smoothly enough. Kunigami was exactly as Reo had imagined—warm, thoughtful, with a quiet confidence that seemed to ground Chigiri in a way Reo had never seen before. When Chigiri made a sarcastic comment about their literature teacher, Kunigami just laughed and said, "You love that class and you know it," with such fond certainty that Chigiri actually blushed.

"How long have you two been together?" Isagi asked, and Reo noticed the wistful note in his voice.

"About four months officially," Kunigami replied, reaching off-screen to presumably touch Chigiri's hand. "Though it took us a while to figure out what we were doing."

"What do you mean?" Bachira asked, leaning closer to his camera.

"We were both dealing with some personal stuff," Chigiri explained. "It took time to be honest about our feelings."

"But once we were," Kunigami added, "everything got easier."

"Easier how?" This time it was Seishiro asking, and Reo noticed the intensity in his gaze.

"Less second-guessing," Kunigami said. "Less wondering what the other person was thinking. We could just... be ourselves."

"That sounds nice," Bachira said softly, glancing at something off-screen—probably Isagi.

The conversation continued for another hour, with Kunigami and Chigiri effortlessly demonstrating what a healthy relationship looked like. They teased each other gently, supported each other's stories, and had the kind of comfortable intimacy that came from really knowing someone.

After Isagi and Bachira signed off (with much grumbling from Seishiro about them needing to "just talk already"), and Chigiri and Kunigami said their goodnights, it was just Reo and Seishiro again.

"Your friend seems happy," Seishiro observed.

"Yeah, he does. They both do."

"Must be nice, being that sure about someone."

"What do you mean?"

Seishiro was quiet for a moment, playing with the strings of his hoodie. "Just... they know where they stand with each other. No guessing, no wondering. They figured it out."

"Are you thinking about Isagi and Bachira?"

"Among other things." Seishiro's eyes met Reo's through the screen. "Do you ever think about what it would be like? Being that honest about your feelings?"

Reo's heart started racing. "Sometimes."

"Scary thought?"

"Terrifying," Reo admitted. "But also... kind of exciting?"

"Yeah," Seishiro said softly. "It really is."

They talked for another half hour, but the conversation felt charged with undercurrents neither of them was quite ready to address directly. When they finally said goodnight, Reo lay in bed thinking about the way Seishiro had looked when he talked about being honest about feelings.

It was time to start being a little more honest himself.