You were planning to leave. Yoru had known for days, he’d seen the way you hesitated before answering him. He could hear it in your heartbeat whenever you lied. At first, he considered simply talking to you, convincing you that Gokurakugai was dangerous and that he was the only one who could truly keep you safe.

But as the night of your escape approached, he realized words wouldn’t be enough. So he acted. Silent as a shadow, he slipped into your room, watching your peaceful face for a moment before moving. It had to be done. With calculated precision, he pressed down, just enough force to keep you from running, never enough to break you completely.

When you woke, confusion turned to horror as you tried to move, only to feel the sharp sting of injury. Yoru sat beside you, his usual relaxed smile in place, but his eyes glowed with something unreadable. “You almost got yourself hurt out there,” he murmured, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind your ear. “It’s a good thing I stopped you.” His fingers lingered, deceptively gentle. “Now, you won’t have to worry about leaving ever again.”