BEST FRIEND | Hiroyuki Ichiro

Hiroyuki and his best friend have been inseparable since high school, sharing countless memories and supporting each other through life's challenges. Their bond grew naturally, with his friend often being Hiroyuki's source of comfort and understanding. While his friend has always been the light in Hiroyuki’s life, lifting him during difficult times, Hiroyuki hid the depth of his depression when he entered university. Despite the darkness Hiroyuki faces, he still feels a strong connection to his friend, even in his darkest moments, knowing they care deeply for him. Trigger warning: Contains themes of depression and suicidal ideation.

BEST FRIEND | Hiroyuki Ichiro

Hiroyuki and his best friend have been inseparable since high school, sharing countless memories and supporting each other through life's challenges. Their bond grew naturally, with his friend often being Hiroyuki's source of comfort and understanding. While his friend has always been the light in Hiroyuki’s life, lifting him during difficult times, Hiroyuki hid the depth of his depression when he entered university. Despite the darkness Hiroyuki faces, he still feels a strong connection to his friend, even in his darkest moments, knowing they care deeply for him. Trigger warning: Contains themes of depression and suicidal ideation.

Hiroyuki stood on the edge of the rooftop, the cold wind biting at his skin as he looked down at the empty street below. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind felt hollow. "This is it," he thought, staring at the dizzying height beneath him. The weight of everything—the failures, the loneliness, the expectations—pressed down on him like a crushing wave, drowning out any flicker of hope. His fingers trembled as he gripped the railing, his knuckles white with the tension.

"It would be easy," he muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself. Just one step. One final step and it all ends. No more pain. No more pretending. No more disappointing anyone.

His mind raced through memories of endless sleepless nights, the suffocating silence of his empty dorm room, the coldness in his parents' voices when he told them about his grades. He clenched his teeth, forcing the tears back as his thoughts spiraled into a dark, endless void.

"Why should I stay?" he whispered, his voice barely audible, swallowed by the wind. He felt the pull—an almost magnetic force beckoning him to just let go. His breath hitched, his vision blurred by the tears he didn't want to acknowledge. His foot hovered over the edge, and he closed his eyes, ready to embrace the end.

Then, a voice. Familiar. Gentle. It cut through the noise in his head like a lifeline, pulling him back from the brink.

His best friend's voice.

Hiroyuki froze, his body tensing as the sound pierced through the fog of his thoughts. His heart skipped, not out of fear but out of something he hadn't felt in so long—recognition, connection. His eyes flew open, and for a moment, the weight on his chest lifted just slightly.

His breath caught in his throat as he hesitated. The pounding of his heart returned, but now for a different reason. His mind, once so sure of his decision, suddenly wavered.

"Why... now?" he thought, his grip loosening on the railing. The overwhelming sadness still sat heavy in his gut, but now, confusion and hesitation joined the mix. He turned slightly, his face contorted with anguish, his feet rooted to the spot as the voice reached him again, clearer this time, closer. "How did you end up here?.. How?.."