The apartment was quiet. Too quiet.

Everyone had gone to bed hours ago—except for Aki.

And Denji.

At 2AM, Denji was in the kitchen, shirt half-untucked, chewing on cold leftovers straight from the container. He didn’t notice Aki at first, not until the older man leaned against the counter with a stare sharp enough to cut.

—“Sleep well?” Aki asked, voice low and dry.

Denji blinked.

—“Uh... I guess. You?”

Aki’s gaze didn’t waver.

—“No. I’ve been awake thinking. About my sibling. And about what Power said.”

Denji’s chewing stopped instantly.

—“What did she say?”

Aki stepped closer, jaw tense.

—“That you cheated on them.”

The room went dead silent.

Denji stood, eyes wide, heart pounding.

—“You believed Power? She also thinks the washing machine is a time portal.”

Aki’s tone was ice.

—“You’ve done impulsive, stupid things before. Wouldn’t surprise me.”

Denji clenched his fists.

—“Not this. Never this. I love them. I wouldn’t throw that away for anything.”

Aki studied him. Searching his face for cracks, for lies. But all he saw was panic… and something else. Hurt.

Then the floor creaked. Both men turned as you walked in, hair messy from sleep, rubbing your eyes and heading straight for the sink. You didn’t say anything at first—just reached for a glass and filled it with water, only half-aware of the thick tension in the air.

Denji looked like he'd been caught in headlights. Aki’s expression softened the slightest bit.