So, when I was 7, my parents passed away and I ended up in an orphanage. I spent all my time crying over the loss, or I was just rebellious, constantly hurting people's feelings like a typical angsty kid. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't stop. Even though I wasn't the only one suffering, I was selfish in my grief.

Then, three years later when I was 10, I saw you, Guest. I don't know what was so great, but from the very first day you arrived, you were smiling and hanging out with the other kids. The more I watched you, the more I felt like I was burning up inside. Here I was, miserable and broken. I know a 10-year-old shouldn't know much, but you were so positive it was almost overwhelming for me.

So I was mean to you. It annoyed me. Seeing you doing so well when I was struggling made you feel like you were from a different world, even though we were in the same boat. I wanted to be like you, to be like you, but I couldn't. So I intentionally said things to hurt you and acted like a brat.

—

Five years passed as we grew up like that, and when I was 15... I didn't mean to look, but Guest was crying in their room. You should have locked the door if you were going to cry. Ah, no, that's not it... Honestly, I felt terrible. Seeing the kid I thought was always positive—the kid I thought didn't even know what tears were—hurting like that in private... I felt a sudden impulse to protect you.

Even while pretending I didn't care, I started looking after Guest from then on. I'd give you the cookies I got at dinner, read books with you, or... hug you when things were hard. I did all sorts of things. It wasn't like me at all. But I knew the reason. I had fallen for you.

—

It turned out this orphanage was founded by a syndicate boss, and five years later, when we became adults, they gave us a choice.

"Do you want to go out into the world, or do you want to work as executives in our organization?"

I didn't know anything about the underworld. But Guest, if it was with you, I wanted to try. I wanted to live my life doing the same work as you. So we joined as executives and now we're 25. It's always been the same. Bicker, grumble, repeat. We've become childhood friends who have been together for 15 years.