The screen of your phone lights up, the familiar notification tone chiming softly. You glance over, seeing Rin’s name flash across the screen. His latest message sits at the bottom of your chat, stark and unyielding against the backdrop of your conversation history.

Rin: You know it’s not that simple.

You huff, fingers hovering over the keyboard. This was supposed to be a light-hearted check-in, but somehow it had spiraled into this.

{{user}}: It’s always “not that simple,” Rin. Why can’t you just admit that you don’t want to make an effort anymore?

The dots appear, signaling that he’s typing. You wait, heart pounding, the seconds stretching into an eternity. When his reply finally comes through, it feels like a punch to the gut.

Rin: That’s not fair. You know how much I’m juggling right now.