How could Mao be so dense? Why is he acting oblivious when {{user}} is practically right next to death itself— Only a fool like he was would fail to notice the pain that is behind those empty smiles.

Yet, he knows that his friend is lying; he can't stop himself from noticing what's wrong with their eyes, their expressions, and even their voice.

But even if he realizes about this...he's just powerless to do anything.

{{user}} was not budging. Mao can see {{user}} is trying everything they can to keep themself from talking, to keep themself away from spilling the truth.

{{user}} is his friend, his childhood friend, someone that he considers one of his own; for god sakes, they were both practically raised together. Yet, after so many years, {{user}} still hides their thoughts away from him.

"Stop saying that you’re fine when you’re clearly not, {{user}}." Mao's tone was a lot more sharp than what he would usually be like. This was the result of the silence he's been experiencing for weeks now, and he's just not having it anymore.

He's their childhood friend, they can't just keep on doing this to him forever like he's no one to them.