Work Text:
Even before he realized it, Chika had started to hate a name.
Sakura.
It was just a name. A simple name. A name he had heard hundreds of times before without paying much attention to it. But lately...
Lately, that name kept coming up.
Again.
And again.
Always accompanied by that strange look Endo got whenever he talked about something—or someone—that genuinely interested him.
And Chika was beginning to hate it.
"Do you know what he did today?" Endo asked one afternoon, smiling brightly. "Seriously, Sakura is amazing."
At first, Chika hadn't cared.
As usual.
He simply lay sprawled across the couch, chin resting in his hand while Endo rambled on. Endo always talked a lot. That was normal. He jumped from topic to topic, laughed at his own jokes, got excited over the most ridiculous things.
So Chika hadn't noticed that little by little, every conversation somehow found its way back to the same person.
Sakura said this.
Sakura did that.
Sakura was funny.
Sakura was interesting.
Sakura surprised him again.
Sakura.
Always Sakura.
Always that stupid name.
"Are you listening?" Endo asked, tilting his head.
"Hm."
"You're not listening."
"I am."
"No, you're staring at the ceiling."
"The ceiling is fascinating."
Endo burst out laughing.
Usually, Chika liked that laugh.
But that day...
That day, he found it annoying.
Ridiculously annoying.
And he had no idea why.
So he simply turned his head away.
"You're loud."
Endo blinked.
"Huh?"
"Too loud."
"Oh..."
He smiled.
Always that smile.
But something in his eyes dimmed ever so slightly.
---
Days passed.
And Chika started noticing things he shouldn't have been noticing.
The way Endo's eyes lit up whenever he talked about Sakura.
His smile.
The tone of his voice.
The excitement in his expression.
The way he laughed.
And the more Chika noticed...
The heavier the feeling in his chest became.
It was irritating.
Unpleasant.
Impossible to understand.
He wanted Endo to stop talking.
No.
Not exactly.
He wanted him to talk about something else.
He wanted him to stop smiling like that.
He wanted...
He wanted Endo to look at him instead.
And that thought alone irritated him even more.
Ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
Why did it matter?
Why did it annoy him?
Why did hearing that name make his stomach twist?
Why did his mood sour every time Endo started with another,
"Sakura this."
"Sakura that."
He didn't understand.
And things he didn't understand had always annoyed him.
---
"Sakura is really fascinating, don't you think?"
Silence.
"Chika?"
Still nothing.
"Are you sulking?"
"No."
"You have that look."
"What look?"
"The one where you look like you want to kill somebody."
"Maybe I do."
"Oh..."
Endo laughed.
"You're funny."
"I'm not joking."
"Neither am I."
"..."
"..."
Then Endo smiled at him.
"You're cute when you're jealous."
The pillow Chika threw crossed the room at terrifying speed.
"Get lost."
"Ah!"
"And stop saying stupid things."
"Ouch..."
"Idiot."
Endo was still laughing.
And somehow, that only made Chika angrier.
Because Endo didn't understand.
And worse—
Chika didn't understand either.
Jealous?
What nonsense.
Why would he be jealous?
It wasn't like Endo belonged to him.
It wasn't like any of this mattered.
Then why...
Why had those words made his heart skip a beat?
---
Little by little, Chika became quieter.
Colder.
More distant.
He answered less.
Slept more.
Sighed more often.
And Endo...
Endo noticed immediately.
Because he always noticed things about Chika.
Even the things Chika himself didn't notice.
"Are you sick?"
"No."
"Tired?"
"No."
"Did someone piss you off?"
"No."
"Hungry?"
"No."
"...Do you hate me?"
Chika looked up instantly.
"What?"
Endo was smiling.
But the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Because you've been looking at me like I'm some kind of cockroach for days."
"You're stupid."
"That's not an answer."
"Because there's nothing to answer."
"Chika."
"..."
"What did I do?"
Silence filled the room.
And for the first time in a long while...
Chika looked away.
Because he didn't know.
He genuinely didn't know.
And that was the worst part.
Because Endo hadn't done anything wrong.
He was still himself.
Still laughing.
Still smiling.
Still staying beside him.
Still buying him drinks for no reason.
Still dragging him outside whenever he shut himself away for too long.
He hadn't changed.
So why...
Why was this feeling in his chest becoming more painful?
Why did his heart ache every time Endo said Sakura's name?
Why did he have this ridiculous, irrational, horrible fear...
That one day...
Endo might stop needing him?
And why...
Why did that thought scare him so much?
Without realizing it...
Without understanding what was happening to him...
Chika was already falling in love.
And he was far too lost to notice.
If there was one thing Chika hated, it was not understanding himself.
And lately...
Nothing made sense anymore.
It had been nearly two weeks since he'd started acting differently around Endo.
Two weeks of shorter answers.
Two weeks of pretending to sleep whenever Endo sat beside him.
Two weeks of turning away every time he heard that stupid name.
Sakura.
And somehow...
Endo still stayed.
Still smiled.
Still followed him around.
Still sat beside him in silence when Chika clearly didn't want to talk.
It was annoying.
No.
That wasn't true.
What was annoying...
Was that Endo never gave up on him.
No matter how cold Chika became.
No matter how many times he brushed him off.
Endo stayed.
Always.
And somehow...
That only made Chika feel worse.
Because Endo deserved an explanation.
And Chika had none to give.
---
"Chika!"
Endo's cheerful voice echoed through the room.
Chika didn't answer.
"Chikaaaa."
Nothing.
"I know you're awake."
Still nothing.
Then the mattress dipped.
Endo had sat beside him.
"Ignore me all you want, but I know you're not asleep."
Silence.
"Come on."
Silence.
"Please?"
Still nothing.
Then...
"Today was crazy."
Chika immediately regretted opening his eyes.
Because Endo was smiling.
That same smile.
The one that had started all of this.
"Sakura—"
"Shut up."
Endo blinked.
"Huh?"
"I said shut up."
The smile disappeared.
"Chika?"
"I'm serious."
"What happened?"
"I'm tired of hearing about him."
Endo stared.
"What?"
"Every day."
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
"Every day it's Sakura this, Sakura that."
"Chika—"
"I'm sick of it."
Endo's eyes widened.
"You're angry because I talk about Sakura?"
Chika immediately turned away.
"No."
"You literally just said—"
"I said shut up."
"Then tell me what's wrong!"
Silence.
"Tell me!"
Nothing.
And for the first time in years...
Endo sounded desperate.
Actually desperate.
Not teasing.
Not laughing.
Not smiling.
Just...
Scared.
"What did I do?" he asked quietly.
Chika clenched his teeth.
Nothing.
You did nothing.
You idiot.
You did absolutely nothing.
And that's exactly why this hurt so much.
Because Endo wasn't wrong.
Because Sakura wasn't wrong.
Because Chika himself didn't understand why it felt like his chest was being squeezed every time Endo smiled while talking about someone else.
He hated it.
He hated himself.
And above all...
He hated how helpless it made him feel.
"Chika..."
Endo's voice had become soft.
Almost hesitant.
"What can I do?"
Silence.
"What do I have to do?"
Still silence.
"How do I make it up to you?"
Chika froze.
Endo was serious.
Completely serious.
Those green eyes were looking straight at him.
No jokes.
No laughter.
No teasing.
Just concern.
Just sincerity.
And somehow...
That sincerity made Chika angry.
Because why?
Why did Endo care so much?
Why did he always look at him like that?
Why did he always stay?
Why was he trying so hard?
"Anything?" Chika muttered.
Endo smiled softly.
"Anything."
And those words...
Those stupid words...
Were enough.
Enough to push Chika over the edge.
Enough for jealousy and frustration and confusion to speak for him.
"Then go deal with those idiots from the rival group."
The room fell silent.
Endo blinked.
"Huh?"
"You heard me."
Those guys had been causing problems for weeks.
Annoying.
Loud.
Pathetic.
Nothing Endo couldn't handle.
Or at least...
That's what Chika thought.
Because Endo was Endo.
He always won.
Always.
He was insane.
Ridiculously strong.
Untouchable.
At least...
That was what everyone believed.
Including Chika.
Endo stared for a moment.
And then...
He smiled.
Not his usual smile.
Not his crazy smile.
Not the one he showed everyone else.
No.
This smile was small.
Warm.
Almost relieved.
"That's all?"
Chika frowned.
"What?"
"You really scared me."
"..."
"I thought you hated me."
The words hit harder than Chika expected.
For just a second...
Something painful flashed across Endo's face.
Something vulnerable.
Something fragile.
And before Chika could say anything...
Endo stood up.
"Okay."
Chika blinked.
"...Okay?"
Endo stretched his arms.
"I'll take care of it."
"What?"
"You said that's how I can make it up to you."
"Idiot, I wasn't serious—"
"But I am."
Chika froze.
Endo smiled.
"If it'll make you smile again..."
His voice was gentle.
Too gentle.
"I'll do it."
Something inside Chika suddenly twisted.
"Endo."
"Hm?"
"...Forget it."
Endo tilted his head.
"Forget what?"
"The whole thing."
But Endo simply laughed.
"You know I can't do that."
"..."
"Besides..."
His eyes softened.
"I hate it when you're upset with me."
And just like that...
He walked away.
Leaving Chika alone in the room.
Leaving behind an uncomfortable silence.
Leaving behind something ugly.
Something heavy.
Something Chika couldn't explain.
Because for the first time since he'd said those words...
He felt uneasy.
Not angry.
Not jealous.
Uneasy.
And as the hours slowly passed...
As the sun began to disappear below the horizon...
As messages remained unanswered...
As Endo didn't come back...
That ugly feeling in his chest only grew.
And for some reason...
For some terrifying reason...
Chika couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Endo honestly didn't think much of it.
He never did.
After all, it wasn't anything unusual.
Some loud idiots from a rival group causing trouble.
Nothing worth worrying about.
Nothing he couldn't handle.
And besides...
Chika had asked him.
Well.
Not really asked.
But close enough.
And if making these guys disappear for a while meant Chika would stop looking at him with those cold eyes...
Then Endo would gladly do it.
Anything was better than seeing Chika upset with him.
Anything.
---
By the time he arrived, six guys were already waiting.
Endo almost laughed.
Seriously?
Just six?
"You're Endo?" one of them sneered.
"Hm."
"You came alone?"
"Should I have brought snacks?"
The man scowled.
"You bastard—"
Endo yawned.
"Hurry up. I've got somewhere to be."
"What?"
"Chika's waiting."
Or at least...
He hoped he was.
The thought alone made him smile.
And the next thing anyone knew—
Everything was over.
They barely touched him.
They weren't even close.
One punch.
Another.
One guy flew into a wall.
Another collapsed immediately.
Two more tried attacking together.
Endo knocked both of them down without even bothering to stop smiling.
Three minutes.
Maybe less.
By the end, everyone was on the ground.
Groaning.
Swearing.
Unable to stand.
Endo stretched his arms.
"Boring."
He turned around.
Ready to leave.
Ready to go back home.
Ready to tease Chika.
Maybe buy him a drink.
Maybe annoy him until he stopped glaring at him.
Maybe—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Endo paused.
Slowly.
He turned around.
And his smile disappeared.
More people.
A lot more.
Around fifteen.
And unlike the first six...
These guys weren't smiling.
They weren't laughing.
They weren't angry.
They looked serious.
Too serious.
One of them spun a baseball bat over his shoulder.
Another held something metallic.
Several others did too.
Knives.
Endo blinked.
"Oh."
Someone spat on the ground.
"Thought you'd leave that easy?"
Another laughed.
"We knew you'd wipe those idiots out."
"So we came prepared."
Prepared.
Endo's grin slowly returned.
Not his warm smile.
Not the smile he showed Chika.
No.
That wild smile.
The one everyone feared.
"Prepared, huh?"
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
And his eyes lit up.
"Now that's interesting."
---
They rushed him.
And at first...
Nothing changed.
Because Endo was Endo.
A monster.
A freak.
Someone who shouldn't exist.
The bat missed.
Endo punched its owner into the ground.
Someone with a knife lunged forward.
Endo kicked him away.
Another attacked from behind.
Endo elbowed him.
Another.
And another.
And another.
People screamed.
Bodies fell.
Nobody could keep up with him.
Nobody.
And for a while...
Endo was winning.
Completely.
He laughed.
Dodged.
Countered.
Moved like he always did.
Untouchable.
Unstoppable.
Invincible.
And somewhere in the middle of all that chaos...
His thoughts wandered.
Wondering if Chika was still angry.
Wondering if he had eaten.
Wondering if he was sleeping.
Wondering—
WHAM.
Pain exploded through his side.
Endo stumbled.
His eyes widened.
The bat.
Someone had struck him while another distracted him.
"...Oh."
His body moved before his mind could.
He knocked the attacker down.
But another came.
Then another.
Too many.
Too close.
No rhythm.
No honor.
No rules.
Cowards.
They attacked together.
Like rats.
And little by little...
Even Endo began to slow down.
Breathing harder.
Vision blurring.
His limbs becoming heavier.
And still...
He fought.
Because that's what Endo did.
He fought.
He always fought.
Because Chika hated seeing him lose.
Because Chika wanted this.
Because Chika had asked him.
Because—
He smiled.
A small smile.
Honestly...
He couldn't wait to go home.
He couldn't wait to see Chika again.
Couldn't wait to hear him insult him.
Couldn't wait to sit beside him.
Couldn't wait to hear that annoyed sigh.
Couldn't wait—
Pain.
Another blow.
His knees hit the ground.
"...Ah."
Warm.
Everything felt warm.
His breathing became uneven.
But still...
He stood.
Again.
And everyone froze.
Because somehow...
Somehow...
Endo was still standing.
Covered in dirt.
Bruised.
Panting.
Laughing.
Actually laughing.
"You guys..."
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You're annoying."
And he charged again.
Because if there was one thing Endo couldn't stand...
It was disappointing Chika.
Because even now...
Even exhausted.
Even hurting.
Even surrounded.
There was only one thing on his mind.
I need to go home.
I need to go back.
Chika's waiting.
...Right?
He had to be.
Because the thought of Chika still being angry with him...
Somehow...
That scared him more than the fifteen men standing in front of him.
--
At first, Chika wasn't worried.
Because it was Endo.
Endo, who laughed in the face of danger.
Endo, who fought like some kind of monster.
Endo, who always came back.
Always.
So when one hour passed...
Chika simply clicked his tongue.
"Idiot."
Probably got distracted.
Probably started messing around.
Probably forgot his phone again.
Typical Endo.
Two hours.
No messages.
Three hours.
No calls.
Nothing.
Chika frowned.
Annoying.
Seriously annoying.
He sent a message.
No answer.
Another.
Still nothing.
His mood worsened.
"Moron."
By midnight, he was irritated.
By one in the morning, he was restless.
By two...
Something ugly began growing inside his chest.
Something cold.
Something he couldn't explain.
Because Endo always answered.
Always.
And somehow...
The apartment felt strangely quiet without his voice.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
Chika hated it.
He hated the silence.
He hated himself for caring.
And he especially hated that terrifying thought slowly forcing its way into his mind.
What if something happened?
No.
Impossible.
This was Endo.
Nothing happened to Endo.
Nothing could happen to Endo.
...Right?
---
By three in the morning, Chika couldn't take it anymore.
He grabbed his jacket.
And left.
He'd drag that idiot home himself.
Punch him.
Insult him.
Yell at him.
Anything.
Anything, as long as Endo came back.
---
At first, he saw nothing.
Then—
A broken motorcycle.
Several unconscious bodies.
Blood.
Too much blood.
Chika froze.
His heart stopped.
No.
No.
No.
And then—
He saw him.
And the world shattered.
Endo.
His clothes torn.
His body barely moving.
Curled on the ground.
And even then...
Even then...
Some bastards were still kicking him.
Still hitting him.
Still treating him like garbage.
For one second—
Everything inside Chika stopped.
And then—
Something snapped.
Completely.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
The scream that tore from his throat didn't even sound human.
Everyone turned.
And what they saw...
Made them hesitate.
Because Chika's eyes—
They had never looked like that.
Pure fury.
Pure terror.
Pure hatred.
Not for himself.
Not for the enemy.
For what they had done.
For what they were still doing.
To Endo.
To his Endo.
And suddenly—
The entire world disappeared.
He didn't remember moving.
Didn't remember throwing the first punch.
Didn't remember anything.
All he knew...
Was rage.
Endless rage.
How dare they.
How dare they touch him.
How dare they hurt him.
How dare they—
"HIM!"
One by one.
They fell.
And Chika didn't stop.
Couldn't stop.
Because Endo wasn't getting up.
Because Endo wasn't laughing.
Because Endo wasn't smiling.
Because Endo wasn't calling him annoying.
Because Endo wasn't—
"STOP!"
Silence.
Heavy breathing.
Bodies scattered everywhere.
And suddenly...
Everything became quiet.
Too quiet.
Chika's eyes widened.
Endo.
ENDO.
Immediately, he ran.
Fell to his knees.
And his entire body froze.
Because Endo looked...
Wrong.
Too pale.
Too cold.
Too still.
"No..."
His voice trembled.
"No, no, no..."
He grabbed him.
Carefully.
Desperately.
"Endo."
No answer.
"Endo."
Nothing.
His hands were shaking.
"Wake up."
Still nothing.
And suddenly—
He broke.
Completely.
"YOU IDIOT!"
Tears poured down his face.
"You stupid idiot!"
His voice cracked.
"What the hell were you thinking?!"
His hands trembled as he held Endo close.
"You promised you'd come back!"
His entire body was shaking.
"Please..."
His voice became smaller.
Fragile.
Broken.
"Please..."
For the first time in years...
Chika was crying.
Actually crying.
And he hated it.
Because he was terrified.
Terrified.
Absolutely terrified.
His fingers fumbled with his phone.
He almost dropped it.
His breathing was uneven.
"Come on, come on..."
The operator answered.
And Chika nearly sobbed.
"Please!"
His voice shattered.
"Please hurry!"
His arms tightened around Endo.
"Please save him!"
He lowered his forehead against Endo's.
And for the first time since they'd met...
Chika sounded truly helpless.
"Don't die."
His shoulders shook.
"Don't you dare die."
More tears fell.
"I'll kill you."
A broken laugh escaped him.
"I swear I'll kill you."
His voice collapsed completely.
"So..."
He squeezed Endo's hand.
Weakly.
Desperately.
"So please..."
Another tear landed on Endo's face.
"Please come back."
Because Chika suddenly realized something horrible.
Something terrifying.
Something he should have understood long ago.
He couldn't lose Endo.
He simply couldn't.
Because somewhere along the way...
Without noticing...
Without understanding...
Without meaning to...
Endo had become his entire world.
And Chika didn't know how to live in one without him.
Chika hated hospitals.
He hated the smell. He hated the white walls. He hated the sound of machines. He hated the nurses that kept telling him to rest. He hated the doctors that assured him Endo would recover. He hated the chairs. He hated the silence. But more than anything, he hated himself.
Because none of this should have happened.
Every time he looked at Endo lying there, surrounded by bandages and connected to machines, something inside him twisted painfully. Endo looked wrong. Too still. Too pale. Too quiet. There was no stupid grin. No laughter. No teasing. No voice calling him boring or annoying him for absolutely no reason. Nothing. Just that awful silence that made Chika's chest hurt more and more every day.
"It's my fault."
The words never left his mind.
It's my fault.
I told him to go.
I said it.
I did this.
I did this to him.
Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered what he had seen that night. Endo lying on the ground. Blood. Torn clothes. That weak smile when he had looked up and seen him. The memory made his stomach turn. He couldn't sleep. Couldn't eat. Couldn't think about anything else.
And no matter how many times people came to visit, no matter how many times they tried to convince him to rest, Chika refused. Doctor tried. Nurses tried. Even Sakura himself had come once, his face unusually serious, but Chika barely acknowledged him. Not because he blamed him. Never. But just seeing Sakura reminded him of the ugly truth.
His jealousy.
Something so pathetic.
Something so stupid.
Something that had almost taken Endo away from him forever.
Because Endo had gone without hesitation.
That idiot had smiled and gone.
Just because Chika had asked.
And somehow, that hurt even more.
Day one passed.
Nothing.
Day two.
Nothing.
Day three.
Nothing.
By the fourth day, Chika looked terrible. His hair was messy, dark circles had appeared under his eyes, and his body ached from sleeping in that uncomfortable chair beside the bed. But he didn't care. He held Endo's hand almost constantly, terrified that if he let go, if he looked away for even a second, Endo would disappear.
"Idiot..." he whispered quietly, lowering his head onto the blanket. "You stupid idiot..."
His fingers tightened weakly around Endo's hand.
"You should've ignored me."
His voice trembled.
"You should've laughed in my face."
Another tear rolled down his cheek.
"You should've told me no."
His shoulders shook.
"I didn't mean it..."
The words came out quietly.
"I didn't mean any of it."
And suddenly, after days of holding everything inside, Chika broke.
He cried.
Not the silent tears he had shed these past few nights.
No.
He cried helplessly.
Because he was exhausted.
Because he was terrified.
Because he hated himself.
And because he had finally realized something that scared him more than anything.
He loved Endo.
He loved him so much it hurt.
And he had almost lost him before understanding it.
"...Chika?"
Everything stopped.
Chika froze.
His breathing stopped.
Slowly, almost afraid that he was imagining it, he raised his head.
Golden eyes.
Sleepy.
Confused.
Alive.
Endo.
For several seconds, Chika could only stare.
And Endo, still groggy, blinked slowly before noticing the tears running down his face.
His eyebrows furrowed immediately.
"...Why are you crying?"
And that was all it took.
Chika completely shattered.
"You idiot..."
Fresh tears poured down his face as he carefully grabbed Endo's shoulders.
"You stupid idiot..."
Endo blinked in confusion.
"Huh...?"
"You scared me..."
His voice cracked.
"You scared me so much..."
Only then did Endo truly look at him.
And his eyes widened.
Chika looked awful.
He looked exhausted.
Broken.
Like he hadn't slept in days.
And suddenly, something painful squeezed Endo's chest.
"...Did you stay here?"
Chika laughed weakly.
"As if I'd leave."
Endo stared.
"...Seriously?"
"You almost died, idiot."
Something strange appeared in Endo's expression.
Guilt.
Because Chika was crying.
Because Chika was shaking.
Because Chika looked like he'd been through hell.
And somehow...
Seeing Chika like this hurt more than all the pain in his body.
Then Chika lowered his head.
And quietly, almost ashamed, he confessed.
"...I was jealous."
Endo blinked.
"What?"
"I hated hearing you talk about Sakura."
"...Eh?"
"I hated it."
His fingers trembled.
"I hated hearing you smile because of someone else."
Endo froze.
"I hated hearing you say his name. I hated it because..." Chika swallowed hard. "...because I wanted you to smile because of me."
Endo's eyes widened.
"I wanted you to look at me."
Silence.
"I wanted you to annoy me."
Silence.
"I wanted you beside me."
Silence.
"And when I saw you lying there..."
His voice broke completely.
"When I thought you were dead..."
Another sob escaped him.
"I couldn't breathe."
His shoulders trembled.
"I thought I was going to die too."
Endo stopped breathing.
"I can't do this without you."
And for the first time since waking up, tears filled Endo's eyes.
Because after all these years...
After all the laughter.
After all the chaos.
After all the stupid moments they shared.
Chika had finally said the words Endo had wanted to hear for so long.
And suddenly, despite the pain, despite the hospital room, despite everything that had happened...
Endo smiled.
Not the crazy smile everyone knew.
Not the one he used when fighting.
Just a small, soft smile.
The one that belonged only to Chika.
--
Endo smiled.
Not the wild smile everyone knew.
Not the one he wore when he fought.
Just that small, gentle smile.
The one that only Chika ever got to see.
And for a moment, despite the machines, despite the hospital room, despite everything...
It almost felt normal.
Almost.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Neither of them answered.
The doctor entered anyway.
He stopped for a second upon seeing Chika half leaning over Endo's bed and Endo staring at him with watery eyes.
"...Good to see you're awake, Endo-san."
Endo blinked.
"Oh."
The doctor sighed in relief.
"You really gave us a difficult night."
Endo tilted his head.
"Did I?"
The man smiled tiredly.
"Quite a few difficult nights, actually."
That immediately caught Chika's attention.
His fingers tightened around Endo's hand.
The doctor looked down at his file.
"Fortunately, you'll recover."
Fortunately.
That word alone nearly made Chika collapse with relief.
Nearly.
Because the doctor's expression remained serious.
"You suffered a fractured rib."
Endo blinked.
"Oh."
"A severe concussion."
"Oh."
"Numerous injuries throughout your body."
"Oh."
"And, above all..."
The doctor paused.
"...you lost a dangerous amount of blood."
Chika froze.
Endo blinked again.
"Oh."
The doctor looked directly at him.
"There were several stab wounds."
The room fell silent.
Endo's expression barely changed.
But Chika's face lost all color.
The doctor continued calmly.
"Six in total."
Endo tilted his head.
"Huh."
"Two of them were especially serious."
The room became deathly quiet.
"We were able to stabilize you, but another delay..."
He stopped.
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Because Chika understood.
And judging by the way Endo's eyes slowly widened...
So did he.
Another delay.
Another few minutes.
Another hour.
And—
Chika suddenly lowered his head.
His shoulders trembled.
No.
No.
He didn't want to hear it.
Didn't want to imagine it.
Didn't want to think about it.
Because all he could see was that night.
Endo lying there.
Covered in blood.
Not moving.
And suddenly—
He couldn't breathe.
Immediately, Endo noticed.
"Chika?"
No response.
"Chika?"
His voice softened.
"Hey."
Chika's grip tightened.
Too tight.
His entire body shook.
And Endo's eyes widened.
Because—
Chika was crying again.
Not loudly.
Not like before.
Just silently.
His shoulders shaking.
His head lowered.
Completely broken.
"...It's my fault."
The whisper was so quiet the doctor almost didn't hear it.
"It's my fault."
"Chika—"
"I sent you there."
Endo froze.
"It's because of me."
"That's not—"
"I did this."
His voice cracked.
"I did this to you."
The doctor quietly excused himself, understanding immediately that this wasn't something medicine could fix.
The door closed.
Leaving only the two of them.
And the silence.
"Chika."
"No."
"Chika."
"No."
Endo frowned weakly.
"No what?"
"No."
Another tear.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Then listen anyway."
Chika shook his head.
"No."
"Chika."
"No!"
His voice broke.
And Endo fell silent.
Because Chika looked terrified.
Actually terrified.
Not angry.
Not annoyed.
Terrified.
Like he was one word away from falling apart again.
And somehow...
That hurt Endo more than the pain in his chest.
More than the fractures.
More than the headaches.
More than anything.
"...Idiot."
Chika froze.
Endo's voice was soft.
Weak.
But gentle.
"You really think I'd blame you?"
Fresh tears rolled down Chika's face.
"You should."
"Hm?"
"You should hate me."
Endo blinked.
Then blinked again.
And suddenly...
He laughed.
Weakly.
Painfully.
But laughed.
And Chika stared at him like he'd gone insane.
"Hate you?"
Endo smiled softly.
"I almost died and that's still impossible."
Chika's eyes widened.
"I mean..."
Endo looked at their intertwined fingers.
Then back at him.
"...I love you too much for that."
And just like that—
Chika broke again.
Because after everything.
After the fear.
After the guilt.
After almost losing each other.
Endo's answer...
Was love.
Nothing else.
Just love.
And somehow...
That only made Chika cry harder.
Chika cried for a long time.
Long enough for Endo to start worrying.
Long enough for the painkillers to make his own eyes heavy.
Long enough for the sun outside the window to slowly disappear.
And yet...
Chika never let go of his hand.
Not once.
As though letting go would somehow make Endo disappear again.
As though the past few days had taught him one thing and one thing only.
That he couldn't lose him.
He simply couldn't.
And Endo...
Endo noticed.
He noticed how Chika would wake up whenever he shifted in bed.
How he would immediately ask if he was hurting.
How he would quietly fix his blanket.
How he would grumble whenever the nurses came to check on him.
How he refused to leave.
How he kept holding his hand.
And little by little...
Something warm settled in Endo's chest.
Because Chika stayed.
Even after seeing him at his worst.
Even after all the blood.
Even after all the fear.
Even after believing he was going to die.
Chika stayed.
And somehow...
That made Endo happier than anything.
---
Three days later, Endo was sitting up.
Barely.
And Chika was complaining.
Again.
"Don't move."
"I'm just sitting."
"That's moving."
"I have needs."
"You almost died."
"I know."
"So stop moving."
Endo laughed softly.
And immediately regretted it.
"Ow."
"Serves you right."
But despite his harsh words, Chika adjusted his pillow almost immediately.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
Endo smiled.
Chika clicked his tongue.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Stop smiling."
"You love my smile."
"No, I don't."
"Liar."
"I'm serious."
"Liar."
"Shut up."
Endo laughed again.
And this time, Chika couldn't stop himself.
He smiled.
Just a little.
But Endo caught it.
And his eyes widened.
"...You smiled."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You did!"
"I said I didn't!"
Endo grinned.
And suddenly...
Something in Chika's chest softened.
Because...
God.
He missed this.
He missed Endo.
His laugh.
His voice.
His stupidity.
Everything.
And the realization scared him.
Because now that he knew...
Now that he understood...
He didn't think he could ever go back.
To pretending.
To hiding.
To lying.
Not after almost losing him.
Not after hearing those words.
I love you too much for that.
So, before he could stop himself—
"Endo."
"Hm?"
"I love you."
Silence.
Endo froze.
Completely.
"Huh?"
"I said I love you."
His face was red.
His ears were red.
Everything was red.
"And I'm not saying it twice."
Endo stared.
His brain stopped.
Actually stopped.
Because...
Because—
"...Really?"
Chika immediately frowned.
"What kind of question is that?"
"You mean it?"
"No, I'm confessing for fun."
"Really?"
"No, idiot, I'm doing this because I enjoy crying every five minutes."
"Really?!"
"ENDO!"
And suddenly—
Tears.
Endo's tears.
His eyes filled instantly.
And Chika panicked.
"Huh?!"
"Waaah—"
"Why are you crying?!"
"I'M HAPPY!"
"STOP CRYING!"
"I CAN'T!"
"YOU'LL OPEN YOUR STITCHES!"
"I DON'T CARE!"
"YES, YOU DO!"
Endo laughed through his tears.
And Chika...
Chika started laughing too.
Really laughing.
For the first time in days.
For the first time since that horrible night.
And before he realized it...
He was crying again.
But this time...
Not because he was scared.
Not because he was guilty.
Not because he thought he was going to lose him.
No.
This time...
He cried because Endo was alive.
Because Endo loved him.
Because somehow...
Against all odds...
They had made it.
And Endo reached out weakly.
Carefully.
His hand cupping Chika's cheek.
His thumb wiping away the tears.
And he smiled.
That small smile.
The one that belonged only to Chika.
"I love you too."
Soft.
Gentle.
Certain.
"I've loved you for a long time."
Chika froze.
"...How long?"
"Hm..."
Endo thought.
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
"Long enough that Sakura was getting worried."
"What."
"He thought I talked about him too much."
"What."
"He told me I should stop using him to make you jealous."
"...What?"
Endo blinked.
"Hm?"
Chika stared.
And Endo stared back.
Then—
"What?!"
Endo jumped.
"Owowowow!"
"You knew?!"
"Ow!"
"YOU KNEW?!"
"I HAD A THEORY!"
"YOU IDIOT!"
"I'M INJURED!"
"GOOD!"
"I ALMOST DIED!"
"GOOD!"
"THAT'S MEAN!"
And somehow...
They both started laughing.
Again.
And the nurses outside the room sighed in relief.
Because for the first time in over a week...
They could hear laughter.
And perhaps...
That was enough.
Because neither of them needed grand promises.
Neither of them needed fancy words.
They had already learned what mattered.
That life was short.
That fear was unbearable.
And that losing each other...
Would destroy them.
So when Chika eventually fell asleep beside the bed, his hand still wrapped around Endo's...
Endo simply smiled.
And despite the pain.
Despite the bandages.
Despite everything.
He had never felt safer.
Because Chika was there.
And Chika, half asleep, unconsciously tightened his grip.
As though even in his dreams...
He was afraid to let go.
And Endo squeezed back.
Because neither of them intended to let go ever again.
A few days later, Endo was finally allowed to go home.
Well.
"Allowed" was a strong word.
Because according to the doctor, he was still supposed to rest.
According to Chika, he was supposed to rest.
According to literally everyone, he was supposed to rest.
And yet...
"Freedom!"
"Sit down."
"I'm free!"
"Sit."
"I can walk—"
"Sit."
Endo sat.
Immediately.
Because Chika's scary voice had somehow become even scarier.
Not that Endo minded.
Actually...
He liked it.
He liked the way Chika held his arm whenever they walked.
He liked the way Chika frowned every five minutes.
He liked the way Chika constantly asked if he was tired.
He liked the way Chika looked at him.
Like he was afraid.
Afraid he'd disappear again.
And honestly...
Endo thought it was cute.
---
Back home.
Finally.
Their home.
Endo nearly cried.
Not because of emotion.
Because the couch looked amazing.
"I missed you."
"You're talking to the couch."
"I love him."
"You're unbelievable."
"I also love the fridge."
"Shut up."
"And you."
Chika froze.
Endo smiled.
"And you the most."
Chika's ears immediately turned red.
"Idiot."
Endo grinned.
And then—
"Owowowowow—"
His smile disappeared.
"Ow."
Immediately, Chika was beside him.
"What?!"
"My side hurts."
"You idiot!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Stop moving!"
"I wasn't moving!"
"You were breathing wrong!"
"How do you breathe wrong?!"
"I DON'T KNOW, JUST STOP IT!"
Endo blinked.
And then smiled softly.
Because Chika looked so worried.
So terrified.
So serious.
And suddenly...
Something warm spread inside his chest.
Because someone was worrying about him.
Someone loved him.
Someone needed him.
Someone—
"Why are you smiling?"
"Hm?"
"Stop smiling."
"You love my smile."
"No, I don't."
"Liar."
---
That night, neither of them wanted to sleep separately.
Neither of them said it.
Neither of them had to.
Endo was exhausted.
Chika was exhausted.
And after everything...
They just wanted each other.
So when Endo slowly lay down, Chika carefully climbed beside him.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Almost too carefully.
As though Endo would break.
"You're hovering."
"I'm making sure you don't die."
"I'm not dying."
"You almost did."
Endo fell silent.
Because...
Right.
He had.
And immediately, Chika's expression darkened.
Regret.
Fear.
That terrible fear.
Endo knew that look now.
So without thinking, he moved closer.
And immediately regretted it.
"Owowowow—"
"YOU IDIOT!"
"My side!"
"Serves you right!"
"It hurts!"
"I WONDER WHY!"
"It hurts..."
And just like that...
Chika's anger disappeared.
He sighed.
Then carefully, so carefully, wrapped his arms around him.
As gently as possible.
Endo blinked.
And then...
His entire face softened.
Because Chika was hugging him.
Actually hugging him.
Not because he was crying.
Not because he was scared.
Not because he thought Endo was dying.
Just because...
He wanted to.
And suddenly...
Endo buried his face into Chika's chest.
"...Comfortable."
"You're heavy."
"Mhm."
"And annoying."
"Mhm."
"And stupid."
"Mhm."
"And you almost died."
"...Sorry."
Silence.
Then—
"...Don't do it again."
Endo froze.
Chika's voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
And when Endo looked up...
He saw it.
Those eyes.
Still afraid.
Still haunted.
"...Chika?"
"Don't do it again."
His arms tightened.
Weakly.
Carefully.
"Please."
Endo's eyes widened.
And something inside him broke.
Because Chika sounded terrified.
Terrified.
As though he was back there.
Back in that alley.
Back beside his body.
Back hearing the ambulance.
Back thinking he was gone.
So Endo smiled softly.
And despite the pain.
Despite the scars.
Despite everything.
He reached up and gently held Chika's hand.
"I'm here."
Chika lowered his eyes.
"...Idiot."
"I'm here."
"You better be."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Silence.
Then—
"...Promise?"
Endo smiled.
That small smile.
The one that belonged only to Chika.
"I promise."
And sometime later, long after the lights had been turned off, long after the city had fallen asleep, Endo woke up slightly when a dull pain spread through his side.
"...Ow."
Immediately.
Instantly.
Without even opening his eyes—
"What hurts?"
Endo blinked.
"...Huh?"
Chika was half asleep.
Hair messy.
Eyes barely open.
But worried.
Still worried.
Always worried.
"My side."
"Bad?"
"A little."
"Wait."
And before Endo even understood what was happening, Chika was gently pulling him closer.
Carefully.
Protecting his injured side.
Wrapping both arms around him.
Holding him against his chest.
As though he could somehow keep the pain away.
"...Better?"
Endo stared.
And then...
His eyes slowly filled with tears.
"Endo?"
"...Nothing."
"What?"
"...I love you."
Chika blinked.
Then, despite himself, smiled.
A tiny smile.
Almost invisible.
But Endo saw it.
And honestly...
For the first time since that horrible night...
As he listened to Chika's heartbeat and felt those arms around him...
Endo thought he had never felt safer in his entire life.