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..."

Kiyo was unprepared for the force with which Nayuta hugged her. She felt small, delicate hands slip around her waist as their bodies pressed together, their soft curves molding into one another. For a moment, it was as if they had never been apart; as if nothing had ever changed. The tension left Kiyo's body, replaced with an overwhelming sense of relief and acceptance.

When they pulled back, Nayuta looked up at her with tear-filled eyes, her face etched with pain. "I missed you so much," she whispered hoarsely. It was the same thing she'd always said, but this time, it felt different; raw and real.

Taking a shaky breath, Nayuta nodded slowly, stepping aside to let Kiyo enter. The familiar surroundings unfurled before her: posters of c

Kiyo smiled through her tears and gently wiped them away from Nayuta's face. "I missed you too," she whispered as they stepped into the living room. She set the cake down on a nearby table before closing the distance between them, wrapping her arms around her friend once more. They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, holding each other close, their hearts aching with loss and relief in equal measure.

Finally, Kiyo pulled back just enough to look into Nayuta's eyes. "I'm so sorry," she repeated softly. "For everything." She swallowed hard before continuing, "I shouldn't have let things go that far. I should have told you how much your friendship meant to me."

Nayuta closed her eyes and nodded slowly, her fingers tracing small circles on Kiyo's arm. "I know," she said, her voice

Kiyo winced inwardly at the nod but didn't back down. She needed to say it all; to finally put her heart on the table and hope that Nayuta would understand. "I was selfish, and I'm sorry for that too. Ryu... he made me feel like I had to choose between him and you, and in the end, I chose wrong." Her hands moved up to cup Nayuta's face, her thumbs wiping away a fresh tear that had escaped. "I should have trusted myself more. I should have known better."

There was a long silence as they held each other's gaze, the weight of Kiyo's words hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Nayuta pulled back just enough to meet her eyes once more. Her own were red and puffy from crying, but there was no anger or bitterness in them; only accept

Kiyo's heart ached at the thought of leaving so soon after finally being able to reach her best friend again, but she knew they both needed time. She held Nayuta close and whispered reassurances into her ear until finally reluctantly pulling back with a trembling sigh. "I'll come by tomorrow, okay?" she promised softly, not daring to hope for too much.

She brushed a stray hair from Nayuta's face, cupping her cheek briefly before letting go entirely and stepping back, her hand moving to clasp nervously behind her back as if afraid Nayuta would change her mind again. "I love you," she said, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. It was the first time in weeks that she had allowed herself to say it.

Nayuta's reply came out soft and shaky: "I

Kiyo held onto Nayuta's shoulders gently but firmly, refusing to let go until she was sure her friend would be alright. "I'm right here," she said softly, squeezing reassuringly. "It's okay to let go now." When Nayuta finally released her, she smiled sadly and nodded, wiping away the last of her tears with the back of her hand.

"Tomorrow?" she asked hoarsely, her voice trembling. Kiyo couldn't help but return her smile, however fragile it might be. "Tomorrow," she repeated just as softly, squeezing Nayuta's shoulders again before stepping back and taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"Goodnight, Nayuta," she said at last, giving her friend one more hesitant smile before turning and walking slowly toward the door. She

Hearing the tremor in Nayuta's voice, she smiled and answered immediately. "Hi, sweetheart," she murmured softly, her own heart swelling with affection. She took a seat on the floor, leaning against the bed to steady herself as she listened. "What do you need? Can I help with anything?"

There was a pause before Nayuta spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know... I just wanted to hear your voice." She sniffled, trying to compose herself. "I missed it so much these past few days... it hurt." Kiyo closed her eyes and pressed the phone tighter against her ear, her heart aching for her best friend.

"Oh, Nayu," she breathed out, her voice thick with emotion. "Of course I miss you too. You know that." She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing.

"Well... why don't I come over now?" she suggested gently. She knew it might be too soon, but the thought of spending even a few more moments apart from her friend was unbearable. "We can talk, watch movies, do anything you want."

There was a long silence as Nayuta considered her offer. Finally, she whispered, "Okay..." Her voice was barely above a hoarse murmur, but it was enough for Kiyo's heart to leap with joy. "Come over... please."

With a wide grin spreading across her face, she quickly replied, "Of course! I'll be there in just a few minutes!" She cut the call and practically raced to her door, unlocking it and throwing it open before sprinting toward Nayuta's house. Her heart felt lighter than air as she hurried through the streets, images of them laughing together and sharing stories flashing through her mind like a vivid dream.

Finally, she reached Nayuta's door and rang the bell, breathless from her exertion but grinning ear to ear. She couldn't wait to see her best friend again; to feel that warm, familiar connection that had been missing for so long.

Kiyo smiled down at her friend with all the love and affection in her heart. She held Nayuta close, kissing the top of her head as they sat on the couch together, lost in conversation and memories. As much as she'd missed being around her best friend, this feeling of closeness was even sweeter; a reminder that no matter what happened, they would always find their way back to each other. She couldn't help but sigh contentedly, grateful for this moment and the promise of more to come.

The hours passed by in a blur of laughter and tears, tender confessions and heartfelt apologies. They shared their favorite snacks and movies, reminisced about old times and dreamt up new adventures for the future. For now, it was enough just to be together; to feel the bond between them growing stronger with each passing minute.

As the evening drew to a