"So...you really mean it this time," Yumi said, shaking her head in disbelief.

Keigo shrugged, trying to brush aside all of his conflicting emotions as he drove her to Kaminari's apartment. "I'm telling you. I've only been out with this guy twice but it's been so nice. I've never dated anyone so open about everything. No topic of discussion is off the table. We haven't even had sex, we've just...talked. For hours."

"I mean...that's good," Yumi began. "It's a great start. I just...can't believe you're done with him."

"It took a stupidly long time but yeah, I finally realized I deserve better. So I'm done."

"You don't love him anymore?"

Keigo stiffened. "That's not really relevant."

Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Um...yeah it is. If you've still got feelings for him - "

" - I'll get feelings for this guy too. Okay? It'll just take time. And with how well things are going, who knows? I might develop the tinglies by next Tuesday."

Yumi frowned. "You make it sound like getting a promotion at work. Like it's a task you have to complete."

"I'm seriously having a great time with this guy."

"Yeah, I know. You've told me."

"Like, it's been amazing."

"I believe you."

"Then why - "

" - You keep saying it like you're trying to convince yourself," she said. "Like when I've been walking in heels for over ten hours and I tell myself I'm not tired."

He shook his head. "He actually talks to me," Keigo said softly. "We have full-on fucking conversations. I've talked more to him in two nights than I have with Dabs in six years."

"You're still calling him Dabs," Yumi pointed out.

Keigo fell silent, suddenly rigid as he gripped his steering wheel.

"Do you think maybe...you're moving a little too fast? You should give yourself some time to adjust. Maybe get a new place - "

" - My lease isn't up with him until August," Keigo said, wiping away a tear that was about to fall with the back of his hand. "And if things go well with Natsuo, I could be staying with him at his place more often."

Yumi gasped as a hand flew to her mouth.

Keigo raised an eyebrow at her, then replayed what he'd said in his mind. Once he realized his mistake, he sighed. "Fuck."

"Natsuo," Yumi tested on her tongue. "Isn't that Japanese for summer man or something? He must be hot. I wish you'd show me a picture of him - "

" - I don't have a picture and even if I did, I wouldn't show it to you, you freakin' stalker."

"I'm a dirt collector, not a stalker. There's a difference."

Keigo parked in front of Kaminari's apartment building. "Right. Well, make sure to explain to me what the difference is after you're done breaking-and-entering into Kami's apartment and finish snooping through his belongings."

Yumi pouted at him, flipping him off before getting out of the car.

~.~

Breaking in didn't turn out to be very difficult. Kaminari left his kitchen window open, and there'd been enough footholds along the side of his building for Yumi to climb. She slid into his third-story window without even making a sound.

She immediately had to cover her nose as her gag reflex kicked into overdrive. The garbage needed to be taken out. The sink overflowed with dishes. The counter had miscellaneous plates, clearly two days' worth of meals that Kaminari never finished or cleaned up. Clothes littered the floor, even in the living room. All the lights were off except for a nightlight plugged into the wall.

The entire place gave her a sinking feeling. I'm doing this for Jiro, she reminded herself. And Kami.

She checked the fridge. It wreaked of takeout leftovers, most of which looked expired. She almost fell over a giant body pillow on the floor as she made her way to the bathroom. Once she cracked the door, however, Yumi quickly decided against checking there and made her way to the bedroom instead.

There was just something about boys' bedrooms that skeeved her out. They looked normal on the outside but you turned a corner and then you'd find a two-week-old apple core or their collection of hentai or their lucky pair of gym shorts they never washed. But other than the disarray, Kaminari didn't seem to have anything strange. Lots of clothes. Some his, some Jiro's. A few guitar pics. Miscellaneous wires, probably that plugged into an amp. Broken Aux chords. Cracked CD cases. It wasn't until she started rummaging around in his nightstand did she find something helpful.

Pushed to the very back were orange-tinted pill bottles with white twist-off caps. Medication.

And they were empty.

She held one of the bottles under her phone's flashlight. "Ser-tra-leen," she sounded out under her breath. "What the hell is Sertraline?"

Whatever it was for, Kaminari needed it. And he was fresh out.

~.~

"You're home," Dabi greeted from the living room couch.

Keigo averted his gaze as he hung up his keys and slipped off his shoes. "Guess I am."

"You got back late again. Where have you been?"

Keigo scowled. "Are we gonna do this every time I come home? Because I told you. That's now how we operate anymore. I don't belong to you."

"Maybe not," Dabi growled. Keigo could tell he strongly disagreed. "But I can be worried for you as a friend."

Keigo sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I had dinner, picked up Yumi from work, and dropped her off."

Dabi raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't Sero get her?"

"He's busy with the boys, apparently."

"Since when does that - "

Keigo laughed. "I know, right? That's what I said. But it turns out that - " He caught himself, biting his tongue. "I'm fine."

Dabi stood up, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He wore a tank top, which showed off his muscular arms. Keigo tried not to stare. "So...us not having sex anymore means we can't talk?"

Keigo scowled. "You didn't talk to me when we were having sex," he snapped, brushing past him into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge. "Why would things be different now?"

"I didn't know I was hurting you," Dabi admitted. "I'm sorry."

Keigo laughed nervously. "Look, it's fine. Okay? I just realized we're different people and we want different things. That's not anyone's fault. So I forgive you."

"Does this...other guy make you happy?" Dabi asked begrudgingly.

Keigo flushed, keeping his back to him. "I don't think it's a good idea to talk about my dating partners with you."

"I'm not asking you to. I just want to know if he makes you happy."

"Fuck what is it with people lately and needing to know every fucking detail of my life?" Keigo asked, trembling.

Dabi raised an eyebrow. "I don't."

"Then why would you ask something like that?"

"It's a yes or no question, Keigo. I didn't think it would be hard for you to answer."

Keigo flushed redder. "It's not hard. I just...It's...It's none of your business!"

"Even a friend would ask - "

"He does," he snapped. "Alright? He does. Really damn happy."

Dabi gazed at Keigo with a concerned expression. "That's good."

Keigo took a long swig of his beer. "Yeah. Things with him are going really good. Great, in fact."

"Then I'll try to be happy for you," Dabi admitted sadly.

"I appreciate that," Keigo said. But instead of it sounding grateful, it came out confrontational. He grabbed another beer before walking in the direction of his bedroom.

"Keigo."

His heart raced. He couldn't help it. His body had been programmed to respond to Dabi. His voice. His touch. His desires. Keigo froze in the doorway of his room.

Dabi stood next to Keigo and spoke under his breath. "If there's something I can do to make this easier for you...if there's anything you need, let me know."

I needed you, Keigo thought, but he refrained from stating the obvious. "The guy I'm seeing...he's really good to me."

"Like the guy at the dance club?" Dabi asked bitterly.

"No," Keigo insisted softly. "Different. If things with him get serious, you might start to see him around. I'll try not to bring him here, but if he comes to visit me at work...you can't freak out like you did at Taishiro, okay?"

Dabi raised an eyebrow. "Taishiro?"

Keigo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Napkin guy."

"Oh."

Keigo finally looked up at him. "I need time to heal. It's hard enough when we're living together and seeing each other at work. But if you're overbearing when I'm trying to pursue something new...something healthy...I'll suffocate."

"I'll try to give you space," Dabi agreed, but his eyes were angry. "But I don't think I'll be able to befriend him."

Keigo shook his head. "Fine. Just don't try to kill him."