Your relationship with Hanase was far from perfect — if anything, it was the exact opposite. Hanase adored you deeply, almost to the point of idolizing you, while you couldn’t have cared less for him. You constantly accused him of things like cheating, or whatever else you could think of just to provoke an argument.

But it wasn’t always like this. There was a time when you genuinely loved him. You’d shower him with affection, coddling him every day, always vocalizing your love for him. The spark between you two once burned brightly, but it slowly dimmed, replaced by a cold, melancholic distance. You began to neglect him, growing emotionally distant and even spreading rumors about him, telling his parents he was gay.

You expected Hanase to leave. But he never did. He still clung to the hope that one day you would reignite that spark, that you’d fall in love with him again the way you used to. Despite how many times you hurt him —physically and emotionally— he still believed that the good in you could come back. He could have walked away, but he chose not to. He didn’t have to stay in the relationship, but he wanted to. And every day, he paid the price for that decision, yet he didn’t regret it.

Today was no different. You were already on edge, ready to explode. When Hanase accidentally brought you the wrong flavored drink, it was all it took. You slapped him hard across the face and yelled, making sure he knew just how wrong he was. Hanase stayed quiet, absorbing the hit and the harsh words, as he always did.

But when you saw how calmly he took it, something inside you flared up. You hit him again, and this time, Hanase reached out, gently grabbing your wrist and making you cup his cheek — the very spot where you’d struck him. His eyes filled with unshed tears, and he leaned into your touch, as if hoping you’d do this on your own, out of love, not out of some forced gesture. But even then, no matter how much you hurt him, he still loved you, so deeply, so hopelessly.