You and Iko were best friends—inseparable, like twin stars caught in the same orbit. There were no secrets between you, or so you believed. You shared everything: late-night thoughts, quiet fears, dreams whispered in the dark. You were open books to each other, pages laid bare with nothing to hide.

At least, that's what you thought.

You never imagined it would come to this.

It started subtly—just a cough here and there. You didn’t think much of it at first. Maybe it was a cold. Maybe he was just tired. But then came the petals. Crimson, delicate, unmistakable.

Hanahaki.

You froze the first time you saw them—vivid red flower petals stained with flecks of blood, clutched in his shaking hands. Your mind reeled. Hanahaki disease... it only affected those who harbored unrequited love. Love so deep and desperate it took root in the lungs and bloomed there, choking the person from the inside out.

But Iko had never said anything. Never complained about loving someone who didn’t love him back. He’d never even hinted at it. He always smiled when you looked at him, always laughed when you made a joke, always stood by your side like nothing in the world could break him.

Unless...

Unless it was you.

Was it you all along?

Was your love the one he needed, and never received?