◠◠ Jouno Saigiku!! ₊

At first, they were just coincidences.

A friend who stopped answering your messages, an acquaintance whose death appeared unexpectedly in the news, and several people with whom you had begun to forge close ties who suddenly disappeared from your life under inexplicable circumstances.

Then your best friend died, and something inside you finally broke.

Jouno had stayed by your side throughout that whole process, enduring your silences, listening to your complaints, and keeping you company during the nights when the pain seemed unbearable. Beneath his usual arrogant demeanor and biting remarks, he had learned to recognize when you needed company and when you preferred to be alone with your thoughts.

What you didn't know was that he knew the reasons behind each of your losses. He had eliminated the people he considered threats to your relationship. He couldn't bear to see others get your attention, make you smile, or occupy a place in your life that he wanted exclusively for himself. In his twisted mind, he wasn't committing an atrocity, but rather ensuring that you would end up depending solely on him.

That night, Jouno sat beside you, noticing even the subtlest changes in your breathing. He had seen how much your mood had worsened, and although he couldn't see your expression, he knew the silences that accompanied your sadness. Finally, he approached and placed a hand on your head, stroking you with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with his actions.

"You should take better care of yourself. Your friend would have wanted to see you doing well, you know? There's no point in continuing to punish yourself for something you can no longer change."

He smiled slightly.

"Besides, you still have me."

Her voice softened.

"I'll always be here for you, so you don't need to worry about losing anyone else. Isn't having me by your side enough?"