Chapter Text
There were two three-word phrases that made Kazuha's heart clench.
“I love you” and “let’s break up.”
And all Kazuha yearned to hear after a long day of work was the former, but the phrase that rang in his ears, echoed in his mind, and ruined his life entirely, was the latter.
“...What?” Kazuha murmured. He was seated on the couch, having just sat down. You were right in front of him, standing in front of the TV facing him.
Your expression was unfathomable—you were right there yet Kazuha felt that you were already out of reach.
“Let’s break up,” you repeated in a whispery tone. It was cruel. You were cruel. That same voice that Kazuha adored and cherished so much was the same voice that would speak such heartbreaking words.
Kazuha's lips were parted, wanting to say something. The words just ran out of his mouth, yet so many questions filled his mind. What made you suddenly ask this? Was there something wrong? Was it never working out? Had he done something wrong?
He loves you. He loves you as if you were love itself, and nothing could ever make him love you less.
Not even as you ask him to part ways.
Kazuha glanced at the floor, then back to your face. You were so beautiful, so ethereal.
“I’m not mentally well enough to be in a relationship with you,” you explained.
“What do you mean?” Kazuha's eyebrows furrowed. He wasn't mad, he could never get mad at you, he was just confused. All he wanted to do was hug you, to help you out of your pain.
He knew that you had the tendency to start running your mouth about how much of a failure you were when you felt empty inside. Despite the hurt he felt hearing you constantly degrading yourself, he wanted to stay. He wanted to let you know that he was okay with that by supporting you regardless.
“You know what I mean, Kazuha,” you said, “I always have to make you feel obligated to prove that you love me. It's a cycle at this point, and it's driving me crazy just thinking of the fact that you're probably tired of having to repeat yourself again and again-”
“Is that not okay?” Kazuha cut you off. He didn't want to but you were saying things that weren't true. “You’re not making me feel obligated to do anything, [Y/N]. I always tell you I love you because I love you-”
“That’s not what I meant.” You cut him off too. You started to get worked up, using your hands to emphasize your words. “This isn't about saying I love you, Kazuha. This is about how you always have to prove your love because I keep having doubts about myself and us. It's about how I always feel shit about myself that you have to comfort me.”
“But I do that because I love you . I'm not bothered by the fact that you have a hard time believing that I love you because I know you've been through things.”
Kazuha continued, feeling himself sweat. His heart beat faster than his already quick breathing, “And I don't understand why we have to break up just because of this. Isn't it better if we do it together? And I want to help you [Y/N], I need to help you because I love you.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then make me understand.”
Kazuha stood up, feeling fear bubbling in his stomach, “Tell me what made you choose this decision when we could deal with your mental health together.”
“I don't want to burden you, Kazuha,” you said.
“But isn't that what you have in a relationship? You burden me, I burden you—both of us do, and that doesn't matter. Because we have each other-”
“Not anymore.”
Kazuha felt his words stuck in his throat, wanting to argue. But he couldn't do that, couldn't he? Not when you were serious. Not when you meant it.
The only thing he could do was let go.
But he didn’t want to. He couldn’t even think of leaving.
But for your sake, but because he loved you and respected your choices…
He let you go.