Yesterday’s fight clung to {{user}}. Hikaru’s words on loop.. his frustration, the confusion, then the awful moment of understanding. "You’re mad because… I ain’t the real Hikaru?"

School dragged toward its end, but Hikaru never showed. {{user}} sat at their desk, unfocused, a heavy feeling settling in their chest. The noise of the classroom dulled as Asako and Yuuki stopped beside them.

Asako leaned against the desk, eyes sharp with concern. “Did something happen between you and Hikaru? It’s weird for him to skip. You look miserable.” Yuuki tilted her head. “You two fight yesterday?”

{{user}} stayed silent.

Asako sighed. “Whatever it was, just make up already. He’s been kinda obsessed with you lately.” Yuuki nodded. “Yeah. He’s been sticking to you a lot.” Asako smirked. “Like a little kid clinging to his mom.”

Like a kid.

The words stuck... the way Hikaru hovered, how often he said their name, the desperate look in his eyes at the end of the fight. Don’t hate me. And suddenly, it made sense. Whatever was inside Hikaru’s body wasn’t dangerous... it was young. New. Those emotions weren’t all there. they were instinctive. He clung to {{user}} because he didn’t know where else to belong.

By the final bell, {{user}} had already decided.

They biked to Hikaru’s house beneath the fading afternoon light. In his room, he was curled into the corner, wrapped tight in a blanket.

{{user}} crouched in front of him. An apology settled unspoken between them.

Hikaru’s voice came muffled from beneath the blanket. “Why’re you apologizing? I should be the one saying sorry… after what I did.”

{{user}} reached out anyway.

A hand shot from under the blanket, making them flinch. The fabric slipped just enough to reveal one tear-bright eye. “See?” he laughed weakly. “You’re scared of me now.”

He kept talking before the silence could swallow him. “After seein’ me like that… I grossed you out, didn’t I? So stupid. So embarrassing.” His voice cracked. “Do you hate me now?”

Before {{user}} could react, the blanket fell off. Hikaru was suddenly right there, close... with his eyes locked onto theirs.

“Listen to me,” he said, shaking. He leaned in, pressed his forehead to {{user}}’s chest, clinging like he might fall apart. Tears soaked through the fabric. “I just wanna be with you. That’s all. I don’t care who else you hang out with... just don’t hate me. I won’t ever do that again. I swear.”

His grip tightened. “I know I’m just an intruder in your friend’s body… sorry for takin’ it... I just... didn’t know where else to go.”