WARNING: Again, some parts of this chapter might be quite triggering for some, especially those who are experiencing depression and has attempted any sorts of self harm. If it makes you uncomfortable, then please skip that certain part, or better yet don't read the chapter for the sake of your own mental health.

Also, I've changed the ratings to M because of the upcoming chapters that might tackle deeper with this issues.

As always, Reader's discretion is advised.

Ichigo sat by her front porch in the cold night air waiting for someone. The wind was starting to blow harder and tiny droplets started coming down from the sky, their numbers slowly growing before pouring almost all at once. Her nightgown was beginning to dampen and the rain puddles splashed beneath her feet, staining the with mud. She knew she should get inside in order to avoid the wet damaging her immune system but she was enjoying it, the slight pitter patter that echoes with every drop and the way the rain seems to wash over the earth, cleansing it.

If only the rain could wash away her doubts and worries.

Up till now, she still couldn't get over the talk she had with Zero Two. Tensions arose between them, and in her emotions running wild over the horned girls cold words regarding Hiro, Ichigo slapped her, hard. The moment her palm hit the other girl's cheek, she knew she was goner. To be honest, she felt a tinge of fear thinking what might Zero Two do to get back at her. If the rumors about her being a delinquent was true, then she was fully capable of resorting to violent means.

But what Zero Two did was far more hurtful than any slap she could receive.

Instead of retaliating, the horned lady remained calm, but her teal eyes held a storm that could engulf her whole. When her mouth opened to speak, it felt like dagger after dagger came shooting at Ichigo's heart.

"Aside from being president, what right do you have in telling me what to do with my darling?"

That's right, she was JUST the president. Outside of this role, she no longer has a hold on Hiro and his safety…

'But even so..I've known him since childhood...I'm his…'

'...friend..'

"You're right. Darling's mind right now is messed up, but in all your years, have you tried reaching out to him? Understanding him?"

Could she even call herself one? A friend? If she was, she should've been able to reach out to Hiro or listen to him pour out his inner demons, his fear and everything that was weighing him down; but she didn't and he doesn't allow her to.

Did Hiro even consider her as his friend?

" Well if you didn't know, I was able to get inside him. I was able to hear his pains, hell, I was there to make him laugh.'

Why?

Why did it have to be Zero Two? Why couldn't it be her? What made her special that Hiro would choose someone he just met over her, as well as the others, who he has known for all his life? Why was it that his smiles were reserved for Zero Two alone?

Would it be selfish of her if she wanted one for herself?

The tightness in her chest grows until she finds herself choking in her own tears dropping like her own personal raindrop.

"Ichigo?" Ichigo slightly jumps at the call of her name. Looking up, she sees the person she was waiting for holding up a red umbrella.

"Goro…"

"What are you doing out here? You'll catch a cold if you keep this up!" Goro lets go of his umbrella and gives his wraps his jacket on the slightly shivering female. As he gets a close look on her face, he notices a streamline of tears pouring down her eyes. "You're crying…" he notes softly, lifting a finger to wipe away some of her tears.

"I…"

"So you've spoken to Zero Two…." Goro says thoughtfully after listening to Ichigo's story. Ichigo nods, her head hung low. "I don't know what to do…."

"I'm supposed to be the president, and he and I go way back…" she feels fresh, hot tears starting to form in her eyes. Once more, she's having trouble breathing with the tight pain in her chest. Goro could only look in silence.

"But even so...I couldn't help Hiro...I couldn't reach him, but..she's there for him now, and that's what Hiro wants.." she cries and turns to Goro, who was growing more worried for his friend by the second.

"Ichigo?"

'Why am I like this?'

'I can't stand it, my mind's a mess!'

'I hate this!'

'I…'

Suddenly, she feels herself being pulled into someone's warmth. A strong pair of hands were going up and down her back trying to soothe her and she blushes at the close contact, "G-goro?"

"I don't know how to say this but...I've known Hiro for a long time too…" Goro's breath fans her cheek, "and we live in the same house as well...so it also pains me whenever I see him looking so depressed. Even if I'm literally near him, I couldn't do a goddamn thing to help him...and to think I'm supposed to be his best friend…" His voice comes out softly as he voices out his own worries to Ichigo who has managed to calm down a bit.

14 year old Goro was walking through the empty halls of the school as he plans to head home after some voluntary hall monitoring, when he suddenly sees through an open door a flash of black hair standing in front of a mirror.

'Strange, I thought there were no more students in the area' he wonders.

Approaching the person, he realizes that the black haired teen was his best friend Hiro. Goro looks at him in question when he sees the boy looking sickly pale with a slightly pained expression on his face. "Dude you look bad, are you-" his eyes went down and sees Hiro holding out a bloody razor to his arm peppered with long cuts that almost made his stomach churn.

In panic, he quickly marches towards the boy and throws the razor away, getting a few cuts in the process. "What the hell were you doing Hiro!" He yells, shaking him hard.

"Goro...please.." was all Hiro could say, averting his gaze from the raging man before him.

"How long have you been doing this?" Goro points to Hiro's arm, which was profusely bleeding through the thin cuts. "Doesn't it hurt you?"

Hiro shakes his head, his eyes unfocused as he shoots a weak smile towards Goro. "Whenever the blade hits my skin...I feel more alive than ever before..I haven't felt that way in a long time…"

"What the hell are you talking about? You could actually die with one wrong cut!" Goro protests, his grip on Hiro's shoulder tightening. Hiro doesn't answer for awhile, before murmuring,

"Just forget what you've seen, Goro."

Goro's eyes widen over his friend's irrational request. 'If I do that, he could kill himself..and that would be my fault!'

"Y-you...want me to turn a blind eye?" He says in disbelief.

"Yeah.." Hiro nods.

"But…" Hiro gives him a more firm look, despite how weak he looked. Taking a deep breath, Goro reluctantly asks, "Are you going to keep this from everyone?"

"Yeah."

"Even Ichigo?"

"Yeah."

Trying one last time to reason out, Goro says "Look, you-

"Sorry." Hiro pushes past him, leaving him alone with only his reflection as his sole companion.

Clenching his fist, Goro cries through gritted teeth. 'I couldn't do anything…'

"You...You're…"

'I'm…'

"A complete and utter fool!"

As he recounts the time he saw Hiro engage in self harm, he remembers just how dead his eyes looked and how it shook him to his core. Until now, he still hasn't told anyone what he saw back then, even Ichigo, over the fear of what Hiro might do as a result. Till now, he carries the guilt of not being able to stop him, even now, he's seen Hiro through the slightly open door of their bathroom holding a razor in his hands and he would turn his cheek and let his imagination run wild over how many cuts his friend were making. It made him sick.

But when Zero Two came along, things with Hiro felt a lot more different.

Looking back at Ichigo, he tries giving her a reassuring smile, "...but you see..when Zero Two arrived, I feel like something's changing in Hiro, a good change. He seems to smile more and if you take the time to look him in the eye….it feels like he's seeing things more clearly. He feels more alive Ichigo, and that's good!"

"Earlier, when he arrived home, I was about to scold him over ditching classes, but the moment I saw him enter with a big smile on his face, I couldn't find it in my heart to get mad at him..I know, Zero Two might be quite a handful, and what they both did was inexcusable in the name of the school, but...you're right when you said Zero Two was what Hiro needs, and as his friends, we should support his relationship for his sake…" He says while wiping the few tears that escaped Ichigo's eyes. Smiling, he tells her,

"For now, we've just gotta learn to trust the both of them."

'Trust them huh…'

Ichigo stays still in Goro's arms for moment, both of them watching the rain in silence. When the rain stopped, she stood from where she was sitting and grabbed Goro's umbrella, passing it to him with a small smile on her face. "It's getting late. You better go home."

"Would you be okay?" Goro asks, a bit reluctant to leave her side. Ichigo's smile grows into a grin as she gives him a thumbs up. "Stop worrying about me, silly! I'll be fine." she says before pushing him down her porch. When he prepares to leave, Goro flashes a grin of his own while waving to the small girl. She waves to him as well, but not before saying, "Thank you.."

"Hey, what are friends for?" he replies, putting his fist in front of her, to which she bumps hers' with. "See you tomorrow as usual?" she nods, "Yeah, same time okay?"

As Ichigo stares at his retreating form, she smiles to herself over how Goro would always be there for her, one call away. He was the one she'd run to whenever she felt down or pressured with the responsibilities of being school president. He was the only one she'd tell her secrets and insecurities to because she knows how understanding and patient he was with her. For her, Goro was like the brother she's never had, and like Hiro, he holds a very special place in her heart..

'Hiro…'

What Goro said was right. As Hiro's friend, she should support him with whatever decisions he'd make, as long as he's happy; and if he wants to be with Zero Two, then there was nothing she could do but accept it and root for their happiness. She should probably apologize to Zero Two too, since she slapped her a bit too hard for her liking.

But even with this new found resolve...why did the pain in her chest doesn't seem to disappear? Alone once more, she whispers softly to the breeze

"...What was this feeling?"

Author's Note: The Anemone is a flower that represents fragility, which in Ichigo's and Hiro's case, fits perfectly well.