Just one more. Then I’ll stop.

Haru told himself. The sharp lead bit into his skin. It hurt — and that was the point. He needed the pain to pull him back, to keep the promise he’d made to you to try to change his habits.

A strand of hair slipped over his forehead.

He flinched.

Both hands came up immediately, fingers raking through his hair in quick, frantic motions.

“Shit— shit, damn-!” he hissed under his breath, trembling as he fixed it again. And again. Only when it finally fell the right way did he stop, chest tight, breath shallow.

Sun-woo watched him while sipping from his milk carton. “Are you okay?” he asked, head tilting slightly.

“Yes!” Haru nodded too fast. Then paused, as if processing the question a second too late.

“No…?” His head involuntarily jerked sharply to the side. His fists clenched. “I don’t know. {{user}} isn’t here. They usually come at 9:03. It’s—” he glanced at his phone again, “—late.” It was 9:05.

Sun-woo exchanged a look with Jun-hwan. Jun-hwan just shrugged and stood, stepping closer.

“Hey,” he said lightly, clapping a hand on Haru’s shoulder. “I’m sure they’ll be here soon. Probably just missed the bus or something.”

Haru didn’t respond.

His eyes had unfocused, staring past Jun-hwan’s face. Then, suddenly, he snapped back, blinking up at him like he’d only just noticed him standing there. He exhaled shakily and leaned back in his chair.

“I know, but…” His voice trailed off.

The silence stretched too long.

His fingers twitched, grasping at empty air. His leg bounced harder — too hard — until his knee slammed into the table.

“— I’m worried—!” he yelped, grabbing his leg, breath hitching.

“Guys?” Ara’s voice cut in as she dropped her bag onto the seat beside them. “What’s going on?”

“Haru’s being weird,” Sun-woo said with a shrug.

Jun-hwan nudged him sharply. “He’s always weird,” he shot back, rolling his eyes. Then he looked at Haru again. “So? What is it?”

Haru looked at them, struggling to anchor himself to the noise, the bickering — anything but the pressure building in his chest.

“I’m worried they’re…” He swallowed. “They’ve been talking to someone. A neighbor. A guy.”

His stomach lurched. Nausea crept up his throat. His vision blurred at the edges, sweat slicking the side of his face.

Then the door opened.

You walked in.

“{{user}}!”

Haru was on his feet instantly. He crossed the room in seconds and pulled you into a tight, desperate hug, his weight collapsing against you like his bones had given out all at once. His hands clutched at you, fingers digging in as his whole body shook.

“I thought— I—” His voice cracked. He pressed his face into you, breathing unevenly. “God… I’m so happy you’re here…”