They had always quarreled over what would happen in different situations. There were their jokes about using each other as a human shield in the case of a hold up and running to leave the other for a kicking bag when it came to being chased in imagined scenarios where they lived on the edge and skipped out on paying for meals in restaurants just because, and to live life on the edge. In reality Hanamiya hadn't quite succeeded in corrupting Kiyoshi and likely never would succeed pushing him to that point.
That was probably why it had hurt so much when the joking fantasies had become a reality. There was no doubt the mugger had intended to go for him as the more 'dangerous' option, yet for some reason Hanamiya had thrown away his bitter words and poisonous devil-may-care attitude to jump forwards. Perhaps he'd intended simply to leave the man as crippled as any of the aces that had dared go head to head with him but now, a knife buried deep in his breast in a manner that was so painfully mocking of a fairytale, he looked pitiful.
Never mind the fact he was still puffing air from his lungs despite Teppei's insistence he stay quiet, focus on breathing and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
A weak, reluctant smile had settled on his lips at the insolent but no less affectionate "Fuck you" which had slipped out in constant challenge to authority and being told what to do and tears had dripped from eyes that pickled just as harshly as his heart did from the others final words when rattled breathing had been silenced in favour of a single, wet gurgle.
He'd been best friends with the anti depressants since.