"Hey wake up, sleepyhead." Splendid bounced onto Lifty fervently, trying to pull off his blanket. "You're gonna be late for work."

"Hmm…" Lifty groaned, still burying his face in the pillow.

"Hellooooooooo~" The hero didn't give up. He shook the greenette slightly, attempting to earn a response from him.

"Meh…I don't feel like working." Lifty croaked, turning his body to face the ceiling.

"What?" Splendid exclaimed. "No, you can't be absent for work! Come on, wake up."

"Nah…it's all your damn fault." The greenette said, keeping his eyes shut.

"How is it my fault?" The bluenette interrogated immediately, frowning.

"Well, you've worn me out on Saturday." Lifty groused. "So, I'm calling for a day-off…"

"Huh?" Splendid glared at Lifty with annoyance and crossed his arms. He paused for a long thoughtful moment before snapping his fingers. He bent down and blew in Lifty's ear, which in an instant flustered the sleepy boy. The greenette pried open his eyes and stared at Splendid, blushing awkwardly. "What the…"

"I promise you. If you don't wake up now, you are gonna regret it." Splendid smirked, hopping back onto the floor. Lifty sighed and sat upright, shaking his throbbing head. He had only slept for 6 hours and was still in a severe state of fatigue.

"How?"

"Because." Splendid giggled. "I'm going to bake some cookies this afternoon. So, it's your choice."

Now, that was an absolute temptation to Lifty. As far as he knew, Splendid's cookies were delectable. He had never tasted anything so appetizing before.

"Well?" Splendid shrugged, slumping leisurely against the door. "What do you say, lazy bones?"

"Fine!" Lifty growled, puckering his lips to make a ducky face. Splendid laughed triumphantly at his trick and plodded downstairs.

Lifty slipped out of bed, sighing. He couldn't believe he had let the hero manipulate him so readily. The hero seemed to have increasing influences over him these days. Whatever he said, the greenette would listen to it unconsciously. Sometimes, Lifty would try to stick to his own rebellion and disobey the other boy. He especially enjoyed making Splendid angry because whenever the bluenette threw a tantrum, he would act like a child. A child who seriously craved for attention, for condolence and for a sense of belonging. It's usually Lifty who fooled around with the hero, upsetting him and then reassuring him all at once, taking every dramatic fluctuation of Splendid's mood for granted. And yet, the hero had recently discovered the other boy's ultimate weakness. The former thief, beyond doubt, could never resist any of Splendid's handmade cuisine. The routine usually went with them constantly teasing and getting each other to do something through tricks, though they couldn't deny such a fascinating bond granted them endless happiness.

"Hey, you gotta keep your promise." Lifty said while munching a slice of fruit toast.

"Okay, okay." Splendid grinned and took a sip of his coffee. "I don't break promises."

"Sure." Lifty gave out one of his trademark snickers. He now had more motivation to work since he had something fabulous to look forward to. He was madly in love with Splendid's cooking and had indisputably gotten addicted to it. His food had an immense power to fuel Lifty with energy, delight and passion. The hero continued spoiling his companion, stuffing everything he cooked into Lifty's mouth. For years, he had been cooking delicious dishes but no one ever had the opportunity to taste them. He was simply glad that someone was there to guzzle down his meal. He loved it whenever Lifty praised his cooking talents and demanded more. Even if Lifty ate up all his food stock, Splendid wouldn't mind a bit because all he wanted was to see his friend happy.

"I'm gonna develop these photos when I get back to office today." Splendid said, holding up the digital camera with enthusiasm.

"Ugh, don't bother with it." Lifty grunted. "I look stupid in half of the pictures you took!"

"Well, it's your nature to look stupid, isn't it?" Splendid taunted. "Anyway, I'm not going to waste these pictures in which I was trying so hard to look handsome."

"Er…" Lifty rolled his eyes, again confounded by the hero's intended jokes. For a second, he wondered who was really acting stupid.


Lifty promenaded on the road, his mind drifting off again. He had thought Splendid would accompany him to work. He always did. But this morning, the hero had an imperative news report to make so he had to scoot away as quickly as possible. As Lifty strolled on, he began to feel more and more uncomfortable. The fact that he had got accustomed to Splendid's presence haunted him. He was giving his best to grasp the feeling that had been swirling within him for the past few days. When he initiated a chat with Splendid that night, he was completely not behaving in his usual manner. He had no idea whatsoever why he was determined to befriend the hero. What's worse, he couldn't understand why he would reminisce about their old school days. It seemed that destiny had brought them together once more when they first encountered each other a year after graduation. In retrospect, Splendid had explicitly expressed his solitude and sadness in front of Lifty several times, going as far as to confess it would be his utmost pleasure to have more acquaintances. The boy was always lonely in his mind, in spite of being a renowned, admirable hero. People seemed to adore him simply because he was born different, not because of whom he really is. When the twins got hooked on tricking their upperclassman, Splendid never did really castigate them. He was, by all means, unexpectedly pleased because someone was actually paying attention to him, even though the kind of attention was foul and offensive. Nonetheless, he took it all with him. At some point, Lifty recalled a scene where he and Shifty stood inside the student council room.

Splendid was sighing at a full list of the twins' misbehavior and wrongs. He took off his glasses and shook his head in dismay.

"What can I do to make you abide by the school rules, just for once?" Splendid asked.

"Nothing!" The twins sniggered feverishly. "Loser, you can never make us do anything!"

"Then, can you tell me why you're doing these inappropriate things?" The chairman asked. "Are you seeking for attention? Or are you simply enjoying the fun of teasing someone? Are you trying to let people see how capable you are to make them think you aren't just a bunch of lazy lay abouts? Huh?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The twins roared at the same time, spitting on the floor. Shifty lifted his leg and kicked the table. The furniture toppled over with an earsplitting crunch. Splendid stared solemnly at the violent kleptomaniac brothers.

"Yo, why don't you lift your fist at me?" Shifty laughed. "Are you afraid that you might kill us by accident and get suspended yourself?"

"Screw you." Lifty piped up. "What a sissy, pathetic loser! No wonder you have no girls! I doubt if you even have balls!"

The twins went on poking fun at their upperclassman, until Splendid could no longer take it and had to dismiss them all at once. The twins walked out of the council room victoriously. As they slammed the door behind them, they could almost hear a sob wafting out of the room. They didn't pay much notice to it then, probably because their shrill noise completely filtered out Splendid's frustrated growl.

Still, the memory remained crystal clear in Lifty's head. He was certain that every time they successfully insulted Splendid, the hero would weep for a second or two. Back then, he couldn't charge at them because he was a model student. If he vented his anger on the twins and slaughtered them, he himself could get expelled. This loophole gave the twins more reasons to keep teasing and torturing him. Until one day, they could not spot Splendid in the school because he had graduated. There was a period the twins had to divert their attention to bullying someone else, mostly some nerds like Sniffles.

It became rather obvious to Lifty that he had been attracted to Splendid from the very start. When he and Shifty saw this amazingly beautiful boy on their first school day, they already made up their mind to turn him into their eternal nemesis. The time they spent on scheming treacherous, sinful deeds just to provoke Splendid occupied nearly all proportions of their school days. They knew right in the beginning that Splendid was the kind that looked harsh on the outside but fragile on the inside. That's why they constantly hurt him and broke his heart. Over and over again.

"Damn it." Lifty cursed quietly, furrowing his brows. "Why was I…such a bastard?"

A sense of guilt bubbled up in his heart. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. For the first time in his life, he felt ashamed. He and his brother had been constructing their happiness by plunging someone into misery. How ghastly and immoral. He couldn't believe he had been so nasty. And yet, Splendid had forgiven him, even saved him from fatal injuries, taken him in and befriended him…

Everything is so inconceivable. So appalling. So touching.

"G-Good morning, Lifty…" A weak voice snapped Lifty out of his thoughts. He looked at his colleague. Flaky stood in front of him with a doleful expression.

"Yes?" Lifty raised his brows. "You want me to get you something from the top shelves?"

"N-No…" Flaky shook her head, almost bursting into tears.

"Gosh, what's wrong?"

"I just…I just want to ask…" Flaky stammered. "Is…Is Splendid alright?"

"Yes…he is…" Lifty answered, suddenly remembering what had happened earlier in the restaurant, the night when Splendid killed Flippy and went into depression.

"Please…I know you're now hanging out with him…" Flaky pleaded. "Please tell him I'm sorry. I'm…so sorry to have shouted at him…I didn't mean to….I just…"

"I understand that." Lifty said, patting Flaky's head gently. "I was there too."

"B-But I…I must have made him angry…" Flaky cried. "I said something really m-mean to him when he was just trying to…to stop Fliqpy…I'm so sorry…"

"Well…" Lifty sighed. "He isn't angry at you, Flaky. He's just…sad…That's all."

"I know…" Flaky glanced down at the ground. "I…I must have hurt him far too much…He's always been treating me so well and I've never been able to…to return his favor…..I feel so ashamed…"

Lifty gasped. He couldn't believe Flaky felt ashamed too. It seemed that Splendid's kindness always possessed the ability to make someone guilty.

"Do you know why I…I rejected him…?" Flaky fumbled. "It's b-because he's too good for me…He didn't believe it…He thought I must be lying but it's true…I couldn't stay with him because he's always doing so many things for me…I couldn't take it…I felt really stressed when I knew I could hardly do the same to him. It would only hurt him even more if I don't love him enough. So, I decided to reject him in the first place…I don't want him to treat me so…so well…It makes me guilty….It makes me sad…He just wants me to be happy but I also want the same happiness to occur to him. I figured it won't be fair if I don't love him wholeheartedly. Therefore…until he meets someone that can truthfully understand him…even more than I do…I'll keep declining his request because he deserves someone better…He needs someone that can shed away his tears and is able to cheer him…which I could never do with success. He's usually the one who makes me smile…"

Lifty listened in awe. Every single word Flaky uttered struck him hard. He now realized why Flaky did what she did. Despite taking the risk of breaking Splendid's heart, she still chose to reject him because she knew well she couldn't offer him the very same happiness he granted her. She wouldn't want to go out with him and then apologize to him one day that she actually wasn't the right one for him. It was cruel to reject him right from the start. But it would be even crueler if she had given him false hope and then mercilessly snatching it away afterwards.

"Flaky…" Lifty cuddled the redhead tenderly, trying to comfort her. "You're really a sweet girl."

"I just…" Flaky wept. "I just want him to be happy…"

After all, they were friends from childhood. She wished subtly he could someday find the true love of his life.

"Yes, me too." Lifty murmured. He withdrew from the hug and smiled. "Don't worry, Flaky. That idiot has an immune power that's ten thousand times greater than average. I'm sure he gets over everything pretty soon."

"R-Really?" Flaky wiped off her tears and grinned. "You've…You've changed…Lifty…"

"Have I?" Lifty laughed. "Maybe."

"And it's good." Flaky said. "I like this side of yours…And I know Splendid likes it too…"

At once, the greenette flushed. He had to turn away to hide his blush. His heart was pounding fast again. All this time, he seemed oblivious to his changes. Nevertheless, Flaky was right. He had changed. He had, by all means, been changed by Splendid. He had instinctively allowed him to affect him, to tame him and to induce this strange, particular passion inside his heart.

The door creaked open and two teenage girls stepped in. One had eye-catching pink hair, wearing a pale, laced dress of cherry color. Her buddy was a purple-haired girl with long curls, dressed in a fluffy white blouse and a plaited lavender skirt. The two's chortle echoed in the hallway as they chattered loudly in the store.

"Oh my God, I can't believe he's so fun to tease!" Giggles sneered.

"Geez, Giggles, you're so wicked!" Lammy laughed. "You always like teasing the boys, don't you? And not to mention it's the hero. THE AMEATUR HERO!"

"Yea! He's just so…pathetic!" Giggles mocked. "He must think I feel something for him! What a poor brat! If he isn't that fun to tease, I wouldn't be allowing him to rescue me all this time. He always kills me, in fact."

"Screw you, always pretending to be the damsel." Lammy chuckled, nudging her friend. "And how exactly did you tease him this time?"

"Oh, nothing much. I just gave him a kiss on the cheek and he blushed like a peach!" Giggles laughed hysterically. "I even think he got an arousal but of course he wouldn't admit such a shameful fact. Damn, I think he's still a virgin. And I suppose he must be big in length too!"

"OH GOSH, so, you're trying to make him your sex partner?" Lammy faked an astounded face. "Oh dear dear, poor Cuddles."

"Isn't it fun? To toy with the hero~" Giggles bragged. "He's always had this in him. He's such a masochist!"

"Excuse me. Would you two bitches mind talking outside? You're way too loud here." Lifty rolled up his sleeves and strode towards the two girls. Giggles twirled around and ceased laughing. Lammy glared up at Lifty, cocking one of her brows in amusement.

"Well, see who's here." Giggles smirked."Lifty, I thought you're still rotting in prison with your shitty brother!"

Lammy laughed.

"No, Giggles, don't you realize it?" Lammy stuck out her tongue and muttered to her friend. "He's recently started working. All thanks to that hero. I saw them living together!"

"Oh my, my…" Giggles covered her mouth immediately. "So you're living with Splendid? Holy shit, did you just overhear our conversation? Oh my God, I can't believe Splendid is gay! After all this time, I've made pretty much effort into seducing him. He's never locked eyes with me once. I suppose I know the reason now. HE'S GAY. SO ARE YOU, SHITTY THIEF!"

Lifty gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He felt furious that for a brief second, he considering slapping Giggles right across the face. Yet, he couldn't do that. If he did, he would probably lose his job which Splendid had run into much trouble to find for him. He couldn't just let his anger out yet…

"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!" Lifty bawled. "We don't welcome bitches here. If you ain't buying anything, leave! Disturbing, revolting, stupid damn chicks!"

The girls stared at Lifty with their eyes wide open, apparently stunned by his fierce eruption. He was so peeved that almost everyone in the store could hear him sniff.

"Who are you calling as chicks? Huh?" Lammy crossed her arms and rasied her husky voice. "Who are you to call us chicks anyway? You disgusting, good-for-nothing lowlife. If you aren't living with Splendid, you're probably straying in the street now, right? Good heavens, even your own brother has abandoned you! Haha!"

"Oh, what a pity!" Giggles scoffed. "It must be kinda hard for you, eh? Living with that sexy, lonely boy. Did he make you turn gay or what? I'm surprised he's changed you! Wowowow, just wow, it's like one of those fairytales, isn't it, Lammy?"

"Yea, Beauty and the Beast? Or Cinderella?" Lammy simpered with irony. "Oh, perhaps it's the Little Mermaid!"

The two annoying girls once again burst into laughter, basking in their own sickening jokes. Unable to control his rage, Lifty hoisted his fist in the air, attempting to strike the girls for good. Fortunately, Flaky caught him just in time.

"Don't, Lifty!" Flaky whimpered to him, clutching his fist firmly. "You can't."

"THEY ARE INSULTING ME AND SPLENDID!" Lifty snarled.

"Please, Giggles, Lammy, get out for now." Flaky begged, her eyes beaming with tears. "Before Lifty hits you. Please."

The girls exchanged a glance and shrugged it off. They went to purchase a few packs of chips and left the store leisurely.

"Er…L-Lifty?" Flaky ogled her colleague worriedly. Lifty stood still like a frozen statue, motionless and speechless. His eyes were twitching and his hands were shaking. He bit his lips so hard that they almost bled. The humiliation had gone too far. Far too much to bear. He wasn't really mad because Giggles scorned him. He agreed that he was nothing but a disgraceful lowlife. What he was truly angry about though was the way they spoke of Splendid. How could a girl feign innocence so frequently, acting as the damsel just to mock the hero? Teasing him, calling him gay and such, when all Splendid did was dedicating himself to rescuing the citizens he cared for.

This was all too much. Way too much to tolerate!

"L-Lifty?!" Flaky stuttered, prodding Lifty's hand nervously. The boy blenched and hurtled out of the store.

"LIFTY!" Flaky squealed but the boy didn't hear her. He was sprinting as fast as he could, covering his face with ever so many tears.

Lifty sat down on the bench. He had blundered again…He had run away during working hours. He must get sacked for sure. And then…there would be Splendid, looking gloomy and disappointed, wondering why he hadn't treasured the job he helped him to get. Lifty felt his heart and lungs clamped altogether. He found it difficult to breathe. The feeling he had stung him, sending adrenaline all over his body. He wished someone could explain to him why he was feeling this way. He needed to know why he felt his heart ruptured the moment he heard others affront Splendid. He needed to know why he felt his heart aching the moment others coldheartedly laughed about his relationship with Splendid. Was it wrong…to befriend a hero? Would being his friend make Splendid suffer even more prejudice than before?

"Hey."

Lifty's ears perked up when he heard that particularly sweet voice. He didn't dare turn his face to the bluenette. He felt a lump in his throat as Splendid sat down quietly beside him. It was the very same bench they came across each other during that rainy night. The night they went clubbing and drinking. The night they…

"So…what's up?" Splendid asked. "Aren't you supposed to be working at this hour?"

"I'm sorry…" Lifty purred, staring at the ground. And then, it hit him that Splendid was also supposed to be at work.

"I got a call from Flaky." Splendid said. "She said you ran off. She told me what happened back in the grocery store."

"Sorry." Lifty apologized again. "Petunia is probably going to lay me off…I suppose."

"Nah, she isn't." Splendid winked at Lifty. "She understands the situation. She actually heard the conflict. Everyone knew why you ran off."

"Hmm…" Lifty's face reddened. He automatically kept his eyes away from Splendid, not wishing to blush even more while facing him.

"So…I guess…you now understand what I said the other night?" Splendid giggled softly. "About people faking around and trying to flatter me."

"You mean…You know Giggles is teasing you all along?" Lifty asked.

"Sort of." Splendid shrugged. "But what can I do? Whenever she calls for help, I'm bound by the responsibility to save her. It's my duty as a hero. Plus, I always kill her unintentionally. I'd say it's karma or more likely my little revenge."

"Really?!" Lifty gazed at the hero in disbelief. Splendid nodded and chuckled. "If I put my mind into saving someone, I think I would be able to recognize my limits. I wouldn't hurt that person so easily…"

"Wow…I didn't know you…"

"It's okay." Splendid said. "I'm happy that you tried to stand up for me…In all honesty, I'm glad…"

Lifty blushed. He felt his heart pumping like a machine out of control. He knew this wasn't right. He shouldn't be harbouring feelings towards the hero. Even though they were friends, Splendid shouldn't be touching his hand right now.

Swiftly, Lifty ducked which somewhat surprised the hero. The hero blinked curiously at the greenette, waiting for him to break off the silence.

Eventually, Lifty spoke up. "Splendid, I think…I think it's better for me to move out."

The hero continued gawking at Lifty for a long time, different parts of his face compressing together to form the most shocked frown. His heart skipped a beat when he tried to digest Lifty's abrupt words.

"W-What…did you just say?"

"Splendid, I think I had better move out." Lifty said. "After all, I've been bothering you for nearly a month now. I should be getting my first paycheck next week. I can find myself another apartment. So yea, that's pretty much it."

Splendid didn't respond to his friend's utterances. He stood up. All at once, his heart sank. These were the words he feared the most. He had never anticipated Lifty would throw them at him one day. He had thought…He had thought he would stay with him. Nevertheless, it was just another one of his delusions.

Having a friend. Getting a roommate. Falling in love with a boy.

They were all just hallucinations.

Someday, they would all be wiped out by reality. A reality that was ever so vicious. So unsympathetic.

"Okay." Splendid said nonchalantly. "I get it. I'll help you find an apartment."

"You…You don't really have to help me…"

"It's fine." Splendid interjected. "I said I'll always lend a helping hand to my friend. I don't break promises."

With that, the hero flew away.

Lifty watched the silhouette stray farther and farther away from him, up into the sky. He knew Splendid is afraid of height. Unless necessary or the situation called for an emergency, he wouldn't choose flying. It seemed that he was in a rush to avoid him.

The sight of him vanishing into the clouds punctured Lifty's heart with an unspeakable pain.

As for the hero, he used up all his strength to fly off, the only reason being he didn't want Lifty to spot his tears.