Communication breakdown.
"At night, when you sleep, I don't have to hear you being angry or see you scowl at my presence. When you sleep, you're relaxed and I don't feel like the repulsing force between us. When you sleep, you don't see me like this: a weak, pathetic self-loathing person who deserves nothing but the misery he puts himself in. that's why I don't sleep when you do." Shuuichi paused for a voice.
"I see you awake in my dreams and, Yuki… you're not mean… And you don't think I'm annoying or stupid. You're gentle… You smile, Yuki. Yuki… loves me when I sleep."
The rest were tortured sobs and gasps as the only thing left of Shuuichi was crumbled on the parquet floor against the bed.
That must have been Yuki-san, Fujisaki thought as Tohma left him and Mika alone in the restaurant. I wonder what's going on; Tohma only leaves like this when Yuki-san is concerned.
Mr. Sakano paced his own living room. I hope Shuuichi will feel better by the end of the weekend or Mr. President will be very unhappy!
K looked out the window. Tomorrow we go back to work. Be patient, my dear new toy.
Why isn't anyone picking up the phone? Hiro hung up and put his shoes on. I'm going.
Oh God… What have I done? Yuki… will hate me now… He'll throw me out for good. He'll… He'll… He knows how pathetic and weak I really am… Yuki… I'm sorry! I… I should have kept my mouth shut. Yuki always said I talk too much. Maybe he's right. Maybe… He's right about everything. I don't deserve-
"Oh dear."
His thoughts were interrupted by Tohma Seguchi's soft yet present voice. He looked out the door and caught the shadows of two people, one on hunched on the floor and the other leaning over with a hand connected to the other's shoulder.
"Eiri? Speak to me, Eiri."
Shuuichi lifted his head again in a gasp – in his numb state, he had forgotten all about Yuki.
"Yuki!" he gasped, crawling and running out of the bedroom. He slipped and slid the last meter and fell on his hands and knees with a painful thud.
Shuuichi lifted his head to Yuki's profile with his silence and unfocused tearful gaze at the wall, then saw Tohma's bright, accusing eyes stab right through his eyes.
Shuuichi's breath hitched. Then, he stood. "I'm a horrible person… I'll… go."
His breath left him as the beat of his heart turned painful and the corners of his eyes lit painfully and everything in the middle darkened and thudded with his heartbeat as his temples pulsed heavily. "I'm… sorry."
The sound ofthe doorbell hit his ears like a train.
"Yuki… I…love…" As his brain seemed to turn to cool water of a swimming pool on a hot day, the last thing his eyes saw were Hiro running to him. And he reached. But he fell. And there was nothing anyone could do as he floated downwards through cold, gel-like darkness.