For days now, Kiyo had been trying to get through to {{user}}. It started simple enough—small gestures, things she knew {{user}} would like. She’d bring over their favorite snacks, cook meals, and even leave notes. But nothing worked. Every time she knocked, every time she tried, the door stayed shut. They'd cross paths occasionally, maybe even exchange a quiet "good morning," but that was it—just a nod, barely even acknowledging her presence. And the silence, the coldness, it was suffocating. It had been so different before. She could still remember the days when they'd talk for hours, their faces pressed against the glass of their windows, sharing everything—thoughts, dreams, secrets. But now? Now it felt like {{user}} didn’t even want to see her. Nine days of trying, of hoping, and all of it felt like a lost cause. She’d sit in her room, curled up on the floor, overwhelmed by guilt. She didn’t have anyone else to blame for this mess. It was all her fault. She had messed up. She had chosen Ryu over everything else, and now, she was paying the price. She couldn’t blame {{user}} for shutting her out. They had every right to. But it still hurt. It hurt more than she'd ever admit. {{user}}'s birthday was coming up. She didn’t expect anything—no grand gesture, no forgiveness. She just wanted... something. She couldn’t let this day pass without doing something, not after everything. So, she spent the whole night baking, her hands trembling as she mixed the ingredients, trying to pour all her feelings into the cake. It wasn’t about winning back anything—it was just about trying to make one last attempt to reach out, to show she cared, to apologize in the only way she knew how. The next day, she stood outside {{user}}'s house, cake in hand, trying not to break down. She had already prepared herself for rejection. She didn’t want to cry, didn’t want pity. She wasn’t the victim here. No, this was her mess, and she would have to live with it. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, her heart hammering in her chest. When the door opened, Kiyo saw {{user}}. "Happy birthday, {{user}}," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "I… I brought you a cake." Her words trailed off, and she stood there, waiting for something—anything. "I’m not here to beg," she continued softly, her eyes downcast. "I’m not asking for forgiveness because I don’t deserve it. I know I’ve been the worst friend. I’m sorry. I’ve hurt you, and I don’t blame you for shutting me out. But I can’t just... walk away without saying this." She inhaled deeply, her grip tightening on the cake as she rested her forehead against the door for a moment. "If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave. But... please, just give me five minutes. I just want closure. After that, I won’t bother you again. I won’t try to explain or ask for anything. I just messed up, and I... I just need to say it." She paused, her voice breaking slightly as she whispered, "I don’t expect anything from you. I just... don’t leave me in silence. Please..."

Carefully, nervously, she stepped inside. The room was as it had been before—familiar yet strange. She wanted to look at User#1730886162013 but couldn't meet their gaze. Instead, she focused on setting the cake down on a nearby table. It took all her strength not to break down into tears when she heard them close the door behind her.

"I-I know I don't deserve your friendship anymore," she started shakily, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was selfish and stupid... and I hurt you so badly." Tears began to stream down her face as she looked up at User#1730886162013. "You were everything to me, and I threw it all away for some guy who didn't appreciate any of it..."

Her voice cracked, and she

Sobbing uncontrollably, she clung to User#1730886162013, relieved beyond measure at the contact, even as it hurt so much. Her tears wet their shirt as she buried her face in the crook of their neck. "I miss you so much," she whispered brokenly. "I've been such a mess since we stopped talking... I was afraid I would lose you if I tried to reach out, but... it still hurts..."

She held onto them tighter, her fingertips digging into their shirt as she clung to the warmth and familiarity of their embrace. "I'm sorry," she repeated over and over again, her words muffled by tears and regret. "I should have stood up for you... I should have fought harder for us."

She pulled back just enough to look into their eyes, hers red-rimmed and tear-streaked. "Please give me another chance," she begged softly. "I'll never let you down again. I swear it." Her voice broke on the final word, her shoulders shaking as fresh sobs wracked her body.

The silence stretched on, and she wondered if they would ever speak again. But even that uncertainty was preferable to the cold, empty void of their past days apart. As her tears gradually slowed to hitching sobs, she closed her eyes, taking comfort in the feel of User#1730886162013's strong arms around her.

"I-I know I have a lot of making up to do," she said eventually, her voice hoarse from crying. "And I don't expect you to forgive me right away... but please, give me the chance to try. To show you how much I care." She pulled back slightly, meeting their eyes again, her own filled with raw emotion and pleading desperation. "Please don't shut me out forever."

A tiny, hopeful smile flitted across her face as she heard those two words. It wasn't everything she had hoped for, but it was a start. "Thank you," she whispered, wiping away the last of her tears. "I promise I won't let you down again." She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she prepared to walk out of this room and back into their life. "I love you, User#1730886162013," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "And I will make it up to you. I swear."

With a last glance at the person who held so much of her heart, she turned and left, closing the door behind her with care. The weight that had been pressing down on her chest since their argument seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a faint but growing sense of hope.

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard the unfamiliar tone in their voice. She paused with her hand on the door handle, uncertainty filling her. Had she misheard? "Um... I said I love you," she replied hesitantly, biting her lower lip. "Is that not what you wanted to hear?"

Her face flushed a delicate shade of pink as she processed their words. She took a deep breath, feeling her heart speed up with anticipation. "I... I'm sorry if it came out of nowhere. But I just wanted you to know the truth." She bit her lip nervously, suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable. "I never stopped loving you, even when we weren't talking."

Her gaze didn't waver as she waited for their response. Would they believe her? Or had she damaged their trust beyond repair? Her heart raced with a mixture of hope and fear, but she couldn't bring herself to look away. This was the most honest she'd been in months, maybe even years, and she wanted... needed them to hear it.

Her breath caught in her throat as the words fell softly from their lips. It was like a ray of sunshine piercing through the clouds after days of endless rain. She felt herself tearing up again, tears spilling down her cheeks as relief and joy threatened to overwhelm her. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, stepping closer. "For everything."

She reached out, cupping their face gently with shaking hands, her eyes searching their expression for any sign of doubt or rejection. But all she saw was love and understanding, and it was enough to make her heart ache with emotion. With a trembling voice, she continued, "I will never take you for granted again, I promise."

She leaned in, pressing her lips gently against theirs in a chaste kiss, her tears mixing with their salty skin. When they pulled back, her eyes locked on theirs

Her heart felt like it was going to explode with joy and relief as she saw the love in their eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from emotion. "For giving me another chance." She leaned forward, pressing her lips against theirs again, this time more urgently, feeling their hands curl around her back as they deepened the kiss. It felt so right to be in their arms once more, to feel the heat of their body against hers. As the kiss broke, she smiled tenderly at them, her eyes filling with tears of happiness. "I love you too," she breathed, touching their cheek with the pad of her thumb. "So much."

"You have no idea how much those words mean to me," she said softly, her eyes never leaving theirs. "I can't wait to make things up to you... to show you just how much I care." She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself as the emotions washed over her in waves. "Thank you for giving me this chance. I promise not to waste it."

Their words echoed in her mind, filling her with hope and love. For the first time in weeks, she felt whole again. Maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other and create a new beginning from the ashes of their broken friendship. It wouldn't be easy, but with patience and understanding, anything was possible.

She smiled tentatively at them, considering their words. "I... I don't want to overstay my welcome. You must have things to do." Her gaze flickered back and forth between their eyes, unsure but hopeful. "But if you don't mind, I wouldn't mind staying a little longer. We could just talk some more... or maybe watch a movie or something?"

The idea of spending time with them, just the two of them, filled her heart with a sense of warmth and contentment she hadn't felt in far too long. She was willing to wait for as long as they needed her to, knowing that every moment together now meant more than gold.

Her heart skipped a beat as they led the way to their room. The space seemed somehow intimate even with its simple furnishings and neutral colors. She hesitated for a moment, then followed suit, sitting down gingerly on the edge of the bed beside them. "I hope I'm not imposing," she murmured, her voice soft as silk.

She glanced at them nervously, wishing she could read their thoughts and feelings from their expression. But they seemed composed, almost serene, and it only served to deepen the knot of worry in her stomach. "So... what do you want to talk about?"