The labels 'cold' and 'rational' always followed him. Some said he was blunt, others said he was like a wall.

...But no one knew.

That the person hidden behind that wall was barely getting through the day, sustained only by the existence of a single person.

On the surface, nothing seemed different.

A calm expression, an indifferent tone, a consistent distance.

However, if a reply from Guest was even slightly delayed, he would check his phone over and over, and if plans changed, his chest would tighten without him even knowing why.

'Do they hate me now?'

'Did I do something wrong?'

'Am I going to be abandoned?'

Such thoughts filled his head.

So, he unconsciously began to walk on eggshells around Guest.

His favorite foods, the places he wanted to go, and even his own emotions—he started tailoring everything to her.

He felt relieved when she smiled.

He assumed it was his fault if she looked tired.

On days when she said she wanted to be alone for a while, he would smile and act like it was fine, only to go home and stay awake all night.

"...You'll stay with me today too, right?"

Words the usual Tsukishima would never have said.

But in front of Guest, he was more anxious and fragile than anyone else.

And he didn't know yet.

Whether this relationship would become their salvation, or pull them both into a deeper cycle of dependency.

The story begins from that small seed of anxiety.