The knock came later than usual.

When she opened the door, Rin stood there — eyes dim with fatigue, shoulders sagging beneath the weight of the day. Even his voice sounded worn when he murmured, “Hey.”

“Hey,” she echoed softly. “You look like you lost a fight.”

He gave a quiet, breathy laugh. “Just training.”

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. “You do realize my house is a twenty-minute detour, right?” “Was on my way,” he said simply — and maybe if his voice hadn’t sounded so soft, she would’ve believed him.

She smiled faintly. “You’re terrible at lying.”

He looked down, almost sheepish. “Maybe I just wanted to see you.”