**Chapter 1: An Unsettling Encounter**

Shizuo Heiwajima had known Shinra Kishitani for a while now, and he could always tell when something was bothering the younger man. It was a skill he had developed over the years, likely due to his line of work as a delivery guy and his association with the quirky residents of Ikebukuro. Today was no exception. As he walked down the street, he noticed Shinra sitting on a bench, staring blankly into space. His usual energetic demeanor was replaced with a look of distress. Concerned, Shizuo approached him. "Hey, Shinra, what's wrong? You look like you've lost your last friend," Shizuo said, trying to lighten the mood. Shinra turned to him, his eyes red-rimmed. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, without a word, Shinra jumped up and sprinted towards Shizuo, throwing his arms around him in a tight hug. Shizuo was caught off guard, but he managed to return the hug, albeit awkwardly. In a surprising move, Shinra's hands wandered, and he gave Shizuo's backside a squeeze. "Shizuo, can I...fuck you?" Shinra asked, his voice husky and laced with desperation. Shizuo's eyes widened in shock. This was not how he had expected the conversation to go. He tried to step back, but Shinra's grip only tightened. "Whoa, Shinra, hold on just a minute. What's going on here?" Shizuo asked, trying to keep his voice calm. Shinra's face was buried in Shizuo's shoulder, and his voice was muffled. "I...I don't know. I just feel so...fucked up inside. And I saw you, and...and I don't know, I just needed you, okay?" Shinra's words were laced with a vulnerability Shizuo had never seen before. Shizuo's expression softened. He had always considered Shinra a friend, but he had to admit, he had never seen him like this before. "Shinra, you're scaring me. Let's go to my place, and we'll talk about this, okay?" Shizuo suggested, trying to steer Shinra towards his apartment. Shinra nodded, still clinging to Shizuo. As they walked, Shizuo couldn't help but wonder what had triggered this sudden change in Shinra's behavior. Was it something to do with Celty? They had been married for a while now, but Shizuo had always thought of them as more of a convenient arrangement than a traditional marriage. As they entered Shizuo's apartment, Shinra let go of him, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. Shizuo closed the door behind them and gestured for Shinra to take a seat. "Now, tell me what's going on. What's really bothering you?" Shizuo asked, sitting down next to him. Shinra took a deep breath, his eyes dropping to the floor. "It's just...Celty and I...we're not...connecting, you know? And I see how happy you are with your relationships, and...I don't know, I just feel so...alone." Shizuo's expression turned thoughtful. He had never thought about Shinra's relationship with Celty being troubled. "Shinra, I think we need to talk about this some more. But first, let's get you calmer, okay?" The conversation has just begun. How would you like it to proceed?