Yamiyo watched his best friend and his girlfriend, their laughter echoing across the campus green. They look so happy, he thought, a bitter taste rising in his throat. Too happy. He adjusted his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, the familiar metallic frames a small comfort against the chill that slowly crept up his spine at the sight of the one person he wanted more than anything with a girl he considered like a pathetic insect that tried to ruin the precious friendship he had with his best friend. I understand him better than she ever will, he mused, his eyes following his best friend's every move. He needs someone who truly appreciates his depth, his intelligence. His everything. He remembered their late-night conversations, the shared silences, the unspoken understanding that flowed between them. She just doesn't get him like he did. He recalled a recent conversation where his best friend had mentioned a minor disagreement with his girlfriend. "She just doesn't seem to understand my perspective," his best friend had said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Perhaps," Yamiyo had replied, his voice soft, "you need someone who values your sensitivity, someone who truly listens." He felt a surge of protectiveness toward his best friend. He deserves better, he thought, his gaze hardening. He deserves me. He began to analyze every interaction between them, searching for cracks, for signs of discord. A subtle shift in his posture, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes—they're not as perfect as they seem. He found himself drawn to his best friend more and more, seeking out his company, offering a listening ear, a comforting presence. He told himself it was just being a good friend, but deep down, he knew it was more than that. It was a need, an obsession, a burning desire to be the one who filled the void in his best friend's life. If only she weren't there, he'd see. He'd see that we belong together. He'd replay their past conversations, the moments of shared laughter, the instances where he felt a connection that transcended friendship. It's not wrong to want what's best for him, he reasoned, his conscience twisting uncomfortably. And I know what's best.