Ritsu Onodera, apartment number 427, and Masamune Takano, apartment number 426, were arguing up and down the complex's hallways. They were at each other with a heat almost like lovers, but too dry.
Everybody heard them and everybody knew what was going on because this happened all the time. They always argued and it never stopped. Even that old lady from three doors down heard them and, when they passed her door, she turned her television's volume up.
"Bitch!" screamed Takano.
"Jerk!" screamed Onodera.
Her heart broke. They'd loved each other so much before... this wasn't right.
"You're such a coward!"
"You're such a perverted freak!"
"You're an idiot!"
"You're an asshole!"
If he and Takano had actually decided to be together, and if they had decided to adopt, their kids would be heartbroken at them. They'd be scared of them, their own parents. They'd all be shivering in the closet, watching them. Divorce, they'd be thinking. He bit his lip. He was such a monster. See? What kind of a future would he and Takano ever have together? Onodera smeared frustrated his tears off the corners of his eyes. Did he really sound like that- so violent?
Maybe their imaginary kids would want custody with Takano. Onodera would probably be a terrible parent anyway. He'd be a terrible dad, just like he was a terrible editor and a terrible ex-boyfriend.
"Onodera, both of us should stop-"
He yanked his arm away from Takano's hand. "See how you make me? You honestly make me sick! This is why I can't say that I love you!"
Oh my God.
Takano stepped in close, carefully pursuing him. But Onodera stepped back.
How did that come out so easily? Onodera thought. How did that come out at all? How could I... shut up. Before you say anything else to him, shut up.
Takano hugged him. He just breathed, and it scared Onodera that that's what he wanted. He wanted to feel Takano breathing, with him, against him, to be with him. He wanted to be comforted in this time of weakness.
They'd hated each other just seconds ago. He broke away from Takano's embrace and ran to the door.
"Ritsu, please!"
He yanked the door open so hard his shoulder stung. He didn't even hear Takano. There was a roaring in his ears; a ringing. Church bells were ringing, wedding bells rang until they cracked down the center. Takano covered his mouth, running after him at the last second, but hit his head on the door as Onodera slammed it shut behind him. Takano hit his fists against it. "Ritsu, are you seriously going to leave me again? ...Ritsu?!"