“Chris, how have you been recently? Are you getting used to living with Ethan?” Wendy's gentle smile filled the phone's video screen.

“Sister, I’ve been attending language school recently and... I met someone I like, so I want to move out from Ethan’s place,” Chris said, a bit embarrassed.

“That’s wonderful! What kind of girl is she?” Wendy asked, genuinely happy and curious.

“...”

“Is it... a boy?”

Chris grew even more shy. “Actually, he’s a classmate. He’s really nice. We go to classes and have meals together, sometimes I play video games at his house. His parents are also really kind to me.”

“That’s great to hear. I'm really happy for you. But don’t you think moving in with him right away might be a bit too sudden?”

“They have a spare room at his house.”

“I think you should spend some more time with him before making a decision. Maybe you can invite him over to our place?”

“Our place...?”

“Maybe Chicago is a bit far?”

Hearing this, Chris felt a sudden sadness. His sister’s enthusiasm was always genuine, but he couldn’t bring Haruto to meet her. “No, sister. We don’t have such plans...”

“I see. Well, if you run into any trouble, you talk to me, okay?”

“Okay. Oh, and sister, could you please mention to Ethan that I’m planning to move out?”

“You haven’t told him yet?”

“No.”

“It seems like you’re not happy living with him. I think I should go to New York and help you find a new place.”

“No need, really. It’s okay.”

After ending the brief video call, Chris let out a long sigh of relief.

He thought to himself that as long as he had informed Wendy, he could move to Haruto’s place first. Then, by next spring when Haruto starts college, they could rent a place near the university together.

Chris was relieved that for many days after, Haruto acted just as usual, staying close to him without any change in behavior. If there was any difference, it was Haruto's slightly bolder approach, something Chris appreciated for the comfortable distance it offered.

During those days, Ethan seemed to never be home, or at least Chris wasn't sure, as sometimes he would stay over at Haruto's place. Haruto's father, seemingly understanding their situation, never pried and treated Chris as he would his own son.

This pleasant routine lasted for nearly two weeks. Then, one day after school, Chris didn’t even notice Ethan standing at the school gate until he was pulled aside. Upon recognizing Ethan, Chris froze, and Haruto, realizing something was off, turned back to look at the lagging Chris.

“Chris, not coming home today?” Chris felt as if everyone around was watching them, especially since Ethan chose the busiest time to appear. Chris wanted to shake off Ethan’s grip, but under Ethan's intense presence, he found himself immobilized.

“Is he someone you know?” Haruto’s instincts told him this was a dangerous person.

“Ah, a family member. Are you trying to lure Chris away from our home?” Ethan realized the faint scent on Chris came from this man.

“What are you talking about? Chris can make his own choices,” Haruto retorted.

“His own choice?” Ethan repeated the phrase meaningfully, pulling Chris closer to him. “In the beginning, didn’t you choose me?”

“You’re insane!” Chris struggled to break free, but Ethan’s arms were like clamps, firmly holding him in place.

Haruto reached out to grasp Chris’s hand.

“Let go,” Ethan demanded coldly.

“The one who should let go is you,” Haruto stated firmly, his resolve clear. If Chris was taken away like this, he feared their relationship might never continue.

Shocked by Haruto's determination, Chris knew Ethan was not an easy person to deal with. The stares from around them only intensified his fear. He didn’t want Haruto to become the subject of ridicule and gossip because of him. Chris forced a bright smile, “Haruto, our family has a bit of a weird sense of humor. Don’t mind it. Ethan, why did you suddenly show up today?”

Please, just play along! Chris desperately hoped Ethan would understand his plea.

Ethan smiled subtly, “We're going out for dinner tonight.”

“Sure, but you could’ve told me earlier. Sorry, Haruto, I have to go now,” Chris said, joining Ethan in the car, leaving Haruto standing there, heart sinking. Haruto's disappointment wasn't just about Chris leaving with Ethan; it was the realization that Chris had treated him as an outsider.

Once in the car, Chris’s smile faded. He turned to text Haruto an explanation, but Ethan snatched his phone away and tossed it to the back seat.

“Ethan! What’s wrong with you?”

“Chris, I never interfered with your life outside, but you planning to move out…” Ethan said, strapping Chris’s seatbelt with a barely contained rage.

“I’m moving out, what’s it to you? You have your life, I have mine! Stop meddling!” Chris retorted.

“Your life,” Ethan chuckled, driving the car into the stream of traffic.

Silence engulfed the car until Chris, noticing unfamiliar streets, asked, “Aren’t we going home? Where are you taking me?”

“We’re going to have dinner, remember?”

“Don’t think you can bribe me with food. I’m definitely moving out.”

“No, you're not,” Ethan paused before adding, “And you have to break up with that guy.”

“On what grounds?!” Chris demanded.

“I’ll tell mom about us,” Chris blurted out impulsively.

“You’re crazy?! No, absolutely not!” Ethan protested vehemently.

“Chris, I need to be responsible for you.”

“We’re just using each other, right? You don’t need to be responsible for anything.”

“You like me, you just don’t know it yet.”

Chris scoffed, “Me, like you? Get over yourself.”

“Maybe you’ll learn to like me again.”

Chris was beginning to understand why his sister was a bit worried about Ethan. The guy seemed off. It was impossible to reason with him. Chris sighed internally, recalling how Ethan had always been a bit peculiar since childhood. Growing up didn’t seem to have changed that. Maybe it was the pressure? Being involved in the mafia must be incredibly stressful, he reasoned. To Chris, Ethan seemed both a troubling and pitiable figure.

They arrived at an Italian restaurant. “No one hates pasta and pizza, right?” Ethan’s attempt at conviviality felt unnatural to Chris.

“Sure…” Chris had little appetite. “Ethan, if I move out...”

“Haven’t I already said no? Just enjoy the meal, let’s not talk about that.”

“Isn’t this dinner supposed to be about discussing things?” In Chris’s experience, invitations to meals always had an ulterior motive.

“I just wanted to have dinner with you.”

“We could have done this at home.”

“True, but try this pasta first.”

With no appetite but not wanting to waste food, Chris took a bite of the classic pasta. The taste was unexpectedly delightful. “Delicious~!”

“See?”

Realizing the dinner was just that – a dinner – Chris finally relaxed. After the meal, Ethan dragged Chris out for clothes shopping, unable to stand seeing him in the same outfit every day.

Regardless of who gave the gift, Chris always felt burdened by it, so he strongly resisted Ethan buying clothes for him. The shop assistants were smooth talkers and attentive in helping choose suitable clothes, and eventually, a few items were purchased.

After returning home, Chris wanted to read for a while, but Ethan pulled him into his room, as if afraid Chris would run away. Initially, Chris was a bit scared, worried Ethan might do something inappropriate. Realizing that Ethan really just wanted to sleep, Chris couldn't help but find it amusing; such behavior seemed childish.

"Ethan, I don’t like sleeping in the same bed with someone else. Let me go back to my room."

"But if you're not here, I might not be able to sleep tonight."

"I’m going crazy, how did you manage when I wasn’t here?"

"Back then, I didn’t have to worry about you." Ethan pulled Chris onto the bed, holding his hand, and closed his eyes.

Chris looked down at Ethan, and another guess came to mind. Had Ethan been betrayed by Nate and become emotionally hurt, hence his current state?

And he, Chris, had become Ethan's source of comfort.

That must be it. He should explain it this way to Haruto. Damn it, he had forgotten his phone in Ethan's car.

The next day, when Chris went to the language school, Haruto didn't show up. Calls to Haruto went unanswered, and Haruto only sent a message saying he had something urgent and would return to class in a few days.

What could have come up so suddenly? Chris, worried, went to Haruto's house only to find it empty. A neighbor informed Chris that an ambulance had come the night before because Haruto had suddenly fallen ill.

Why hadn't Haruto told him about his illness? While Chris wanted to send a message asking about it, he also understood that if it was true, it meant Haruto didn't want him to worry.

After checking two nearby hospitals, Chris ran into Haruto's stepfather at the second hospital.

"Chris, are you here to see Haruto?" he asked.

"He didn’t tell me what happened... Is he okay?"

"He had a high fever last night. Maybe he didn’t want to worry you. Shall I take you to see him?"

"No, it’s fine if he’s okay. Please don’t tell him I came." Chris felt overwhelmed with emotion, unable to understand why Haruto hadn't confided in him, and felt a sudden urge to cry.

"Chris, what's wrong?" Haruto's father noticed Chris's distress.

"Uncle Sam, I... I want to move to your house, but my family doesn't agree." Chris broke down in tears.

Sam was taken aback, unsure how to comfort the young man crying like a schoolboy. Both Chris and Haruto were so innocent and vulnerable.

"It’s okay, don’t cry. Your family must care about you a lot to have such concerns. If you need my help, I can talk to them for you..." Sam tried to reassure Chris, but for some reason, Chris cried even harder.

Over the next few days, Haruto still hadn't returned. They only chatted via social media, and Chris became increasingly despondent. However, in his heart, he also harbored many hopes, eagerly anticipating Haruto's sudden return in good spirits, so they could resume their routine of attending classes together.

"Haruto, if you don't come, what's the point of attending classes here..." Chris typed these words into the chat box, then deleted them. His dinners alone usually consisted of rice balls or instant noodles from the convenience store.

"Dingling" - the doorbell of the convenience store rang. Chris inadvertently glanced over and thought he was seeing things. He looked again, and sure enough, there was no mistake. The man with bright red hair, shining eyes, and dimples when he smiled, even wearing a black fisherman's hat, was unmistakably Nate.

"Nate!" Chris stood up abruptly. This was the guy who had knocked him unconscious before!

"Keep it down, Chris. Don't draw attention from everyone in the store," Nate whispered.

"You! You hit me and then ran off! And now you dare show up in front of me?" Chris, infuriated, grabbed Nate's collar. Nate, unfazed, gently patted Chris's back as if calming a pet. "Let's talk outside, okay?"

Outside the convenience store, Nate didn't say a word and just ducked into his car.

"Hey! You!" Chris blocked the car door, not wanting to let Nate escape.

"I'm actually on my way to meet Ethan. Want to come along?"

"Meet Ethan?" Chris was confused. Wasn't Ethan searching for Nate? How could he dare to meet Ethan?

"Get in the car first, and we'll talk. We can't park here; I'll get a ticket," Nate said.

Hesitating, Chris saw the cars lined up behind getting impatient, but he cautiously stepped back. "You should be arrested by the police."

Nate couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, I was too nervous last time. I thought you and Ethan were together trying to kill me. Get in the car, let's go meet Ethan." Nate showed Chris the recent chat history on his phone with Ethan, confirming that he was indeed going to see Ethan.

"Talking nonsense! I was the one who saved you! And you were there to steal," Chris muttered under his breath as he got into the car.

"Ethan is just paranoid, completely misunderstanding me. No matter how I explain, he won't listen. After all the time we've been together, he still doesn't trust me, and he treated me like that. Sigh! Chris, you're the only one who can help me now."

"You want me to speak on your behalf? Or to create an opportunity for a conversation so you can explain?" asked Chris.

Nate shook his head gently. "Right now, no matter what I say, he won't believe me. He thinks I'm a thief sent by someone else."

"This isn't the way home..." Chris watched as the car turned towards another intersection.

"Ethan isn't at home right now. Don't you know where Ethan is?"

"...Actually, I don't care where he is. Can you stop the car and let me out? I don't want to see him somewhere else."

"I don't want to face that scary guy alone, Chris. Please help me out. Even if you don't say anything, just showing up will probably make Ethan let me off."

"I want to go home."

"Only kids can't stay away from home."

"I'm not homesick." Chris felt he couldn't communicate with Nate. He wanted to call Ethan, but panicked when he couldn't find his phone, "Nate, turn back, I left my phone in the convenience store."

"I got it for you." Nate was shaking Chris's phone in his hand and handed it over.

"Thanks." Chris took the phone and called Ethan. "He's not picking up?"

Nate used his own phone to call, and just as Ethan picked up, Nate hung up. "Huh? Strange. Why did he pick up when I called?"

Chris was feeling a bit frustrated.

The car drove into unfamiliar streets under the night sky, with the city lights retreating like a river in front of them. Chris regretted getting into Nate's car; he didn't want to see Ethan, nor did he want to get involved in their affairs.