A/N: A huge thank you to reviewer FabyVane for letting me know that chapters 8 and 9 were the same! Oops! I've gone in and fixed it now (as of July 21st, 2023) so hopefully that change will be visible. So sorry to everyone who got that far and was confused! To anyone reading this story after July 21st, please disregard this message.


Emi POV

We had arrived at my home about an hour ago, the gourmet Italian pizza Mori had requested arriving minutes after us, courtesy of the ever-prepared Shadow King. The tallest host had taken a swift glance at my DVD collection (old school, I know), seen that I had all the Harry Potter movies, and immediately decided we would be having a Harry Potter movie marathon. Though I doubted we would actually get through all the movies tonight.

The hosts had quickly settled on the sofa and the rug in front of it, pulling plates of pizza towards them. I had grabbed a cushion and was sitting on the floor in front of Haruhi, with Honey and Mori to my left. There were excited murmurs and squeals as the first movie started (I wasn't ashamed to admit that I had been one of the ones to squeal, possibly the only one). There was just so much childhood joy and nostalgia wrapped up in the series for me, even if the author had turned out to be a total TERF.

Such a disappointment…She held the influence of a whole beloved universe and she marred its image with her stupid outdated beliefs.

The first movie had just come to an end, people either stretching or going to the washroom before we would start the next, when my phone began ringing. Seeing that it was Avery videocalling me and knowing that neither she nor the hosts would mind, I picked up.

"Hey Avery! I missed you!" I greeted happily, waving with one hand.

"Hey my sweet coconut queen!" Avery grinned, blowing a kiss toward the camera, "Is that the golden retriever I hear in the background?"

I glanced toward where Tamaki was banging on the bathroom door, doing a potty dance with tears streaming down his face as he pleaded with Hikaru to hurry up. I laughed, turning back to Avery, "Yep, the hosts are over! You're gonna be so jealous but… we're having a Harry Potter movie marathon right now."

She gasped, blue eyes widening and one pale hand going to cover her mouth in mock betrayal, "How dare you?! Honestly, I thought we were besties!"

I giggled, "We ARE besties! But we're celebrating Mori coming in first place at his Kendo tournament and apparently he's a potterhead!" I shrugged, then tilted my phone to encompass Mori as well.

Avery waved at him and smiled hugely, "Well congratulations then! I guess I'll forgive you for making my bestie watch one of our favourite movies without me!"

I watched as Mori leaned back casually, eyes slightly hooded as he smirked, "Thanks sweetheart, maybe you'll have to come to Japan so I can make it up to you."

I gaped, jaw practically hitting the floor in my disbelief, ignoring the slight discomfort I felt at hearing the word 'sweetheart'. What the fuck? Is he… trying to seduce my best friend? Who is that and what have they done with the real Mori? Glancing around, I seemed to be the only one who was shocked, only the slightly amused glint in Honey's eyes indicating that anything out of the ordinary had happened. He shrugged and mouthed, 'he's tired.'

So this is what he meant earlier? His cousin gets flirty and seductive when he's tired?! … Well, I guess there are worse things to be when tired…

Avery, being the outgoing and flirty person she is, took his flirting in stride. She smirked right back, leaning her chin into one of her palms, "Hmm is that so? Careful… I might just take you up on that."

Inwardly, I shook my head, amazed at her moxie. I wished I could be half as forward, half as comfortable putting myself out there to pursue what I wanted. There was a reason I had only ever dated people by meeting them on dating apps first. It was like a contract of sorts. Everyone understood that they were on the app for a specific purpose (either dating or hooking up) and you were only ever talking to people who had some sort of interest in you, whether that be your physical appearance or what you had written in your bio. But in the real world, you had to approach people without really knowing if they had any interest in you, and that was something I didn't think I'd ever be able to do.

I was pulled from my musing by a knock on the door. Who on earth could that be? All my friends are already here… It's way too late to be a door-to-door salesperson…

Passing my phone to Mori so he could continue chatting with Avery, I stood and made my way to the front door, shrugging at Honey and Kyoya's questioning gazes. It was times like this when I really wished the door had a peephole. Whatever, it's not like I'm alone here…

With that reassuring thought, I pulled open the door. And promptly wished I hadn't. Before me stood Aiki, shoulders slumped contritely. As soon as she saw me, she grabbed me up into a tight hug. I stiffened, arms hanging like boards at my sides until she eventually realized I wouldn't be hugging her back. She pulled back awkwardly, dark irises staring at me sorrily.

"Hi… Can I come in? I owe you an apology…" she said, voice husky.

"Sorry, my friends are actually here right now and… anyway I don't think it's a good idea," I responded, heart pounding in my chest. I hadn't really allowed myself to think too much about the events of early this morning, or the reason I had been out in the dark in the first place.

She peered around me, and seemed to accept my words as the sounds of the twins teasing Tamaki reached our ears. I frowned, slightly pissed that she didn't just trust my words, and at the idea that she might have insisted on coming in if my friends hadn't been there. Glancing behind me, I could have sworn I saw several heads disappear around a corner and shook my head fondly. I considered stepping outside and closing the door behind me but decided that I wouldn't make myself less comfortable for the girl in front of me.

Aiki focused back on me, launching into her speech, "Alright, well, listen I'm so sorry for not showing up last night! I was there, I swear! But then my friend texted me and-"

I shook my head, cutting her off as I felt my anger rising, "Okay, so your friend texted. You couldn't have texted me to let me know? I left my warm, safe apartment at 4am to come talk to you because you seemed upset and I was worried about you! I wandered around a creepy, dark park all alone looking for you! I-…" I trailed off, having been about to tell her that I had been attacked. But I wasn't sure if I was comfortable sharing something so personal with her. I knew if I did, I would only be doing so to make her feel guilty. Though maybe she deserved that…

Taking my silence as the end of my rant, she interceded with wide eyes, "Whoa whoa, I know what I did was shitty, okay? I'm really sorry, alright?"

I felt my eyes sting with tears of frustration and looked over her shoulder as I willed myself not to cry. "No, it's not alright Aiki… I was attacked last night, okay? And I know it wasn't your fault but… you put me in a really bad position and it wasn't even the first time you ditched me for your friends. And I completely understand putting your friends first, but there's a way of doing that while still being considerate of others."

She stared at me, apparently speechless, as she stood with her hands in her pockets. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, clearly not sure what to say or how to say it. She ended up nodding somewhat blankly, "I'm really sorry that happened to you and you're right… I'm fucked up and I need- I don't know what I need, but I really want to be better for you… with you."

I looked into her eyes in some disbelief and paused. I was someone who believed in giving people chances. In the past, second chances had turned into third chances and fourth chances. Because I understood. I understood that she was obviously going through a lot. People who were completely okay didn't drink until 4am every night and believe they didn't deserve love. But sometimes being understanding was a curse, because I excused people and hoped they'd be better. This time though… This time I just couldn't look past her treatment of me.

I spoke firmly as I responded, "I'm sorry Aiki but… It just won't work out between us. I don't fully know what I need either but I do know that I need someone more… consistent. I don't need to be put first but… I do need to at least be considered. I think I deserve to be treated with basic respect, at least… And honestly, I just don't trust you anymore."

I took a step back and held onto the doorknob with a (hopefully invisibly) trembling hand as adrenaline coursed through my veins and she gaped at me in shock, "Thank you for coming… I hope you figure things out. I think it's best if we don't stay in contact. Bye Aiki."

Without waiting for a response, I swung the door shut gently and locked the door. I shakily blew a breath out through my pursed lips, resting my forehead on the door for a moment. I had never had to do something like that and I genuinely hoped I never had to again. But… it had felt kind of good not to keep everything in completely and to actually confront her. It felt good to stand up for myself! I found my lips pulling into a large smile as I walked back to the living room.

Everyone was gathered there, not even bothering to hide the fact they'd been listening in as they stared at me, clearly trying to gauge my mood. It was Avery, still on the videocall who broke the silence, "So?!"

Channeling some of my friend's signature sass, I stuck my hip out and lifted my chin, responding, "Girl, we're SO done with her."

"Fuck yeah we are!" Avery cheered as everyone else sighed in relief and broke into large smiles as well. She paused, mock seriously, as she asked, "Music rant?"

I nodded seriously, "Music rant."

The hosts eyed me curiously as I quickly scrolled through my playlist until I found the perfect song to express how I was feeling right now. I started the song about halfway through and cranked the music, Avery nodding approvingly as she recognized the tune. We both began singing along, "I don't relate to you. I don't relate to you, no. 'Cause I'd never treat me this shitty! You made me hate this city!"

Yelling now, we continued, Hikaru, Kaoru and Honey joining in by dancing around, "AND I DON'T TALK SHIT ABOUT YOU ON THE INTERNET! NEVER TOLD ANYONE ANYTHING BAD! 'CAUSE THAT SHIT'S EMBARRASSING, YOU WERE MY EVERYTHING. AND ALL THAT YOU DID WAS MAKE ME FUCKING SAD!"

We finished the song, headbanging and flinging our limbs around all the while, and collapsed in a grinning, slightly sweaty mass at the end. Avery was giggling and panting on her end of the call.

It was as if I had been carrying around a weight without realizing it, and now that it had been lifted I felt like I was practically levitating. I was surrounded by all my closest friends at once and I had stood up for myself.

After a brief break, we said our goodbyes to Avery (but not before she gave Mori her number) and settled in to continue our movie marathon. As we sat watching The Chamber of Secrets, I felt Honey slip his hand into mine and squeeze it gently. I felt my stomach flutter strangely and tried to peek at him out of the corner of my eye, only to see him grinning at the TV screen. I squeezed his hand back and returned my gaze to the TV.

He really is ridiculously sweet, he cares so much about making others comfortable… Even now, he's still keeping up with his whole 'desensitization' plan! I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've really got some of the best friends ever.


Disclaimer: The song referred to in this chapter is Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish, and I obviously do not own it!