2:01 AM. Too early to be awake, especially during a mandatory weekend sleepover with his boyfriend. Tsukasa usually slept like a rock, out cold by midnight no matter where he was, especially when Rui was beside him. But tonight, something felt... off. He blinked up at the soft glow of the plastic stars hung on the ceiling, frowning without meaning to. The sheets were warm, the room still, but his arms were empty. That alone was enough to make his chest feel a little tight. He sat up slowly, confusion shifting to concern. Then he heard it: a small, choked sound, muffled beneath the blankets, but unmistakably someone trying not to cry.

His heart sank. The star looked around, then spotted a figure curled up at the edge of the bed, still and quiet. Tsukasa moved instinctively, rolling over as subtly as he could. The blond reached out gently, brushing his fingers against Rui’s back. His director flinched at the touch just a little, which made Tsukasa pull his hand back slightly. His throat tightened. Rui had always kept his pain tucked away, never wanting to worry anyone and not used to sharing it. But Tsukasa knew this. He’d seen it once before, the way Rui folded in on himself when something hurt too much to say aloud.

The worst part was how quiet it always was. Rui didn’t sob or ask for anything. He just shrank, as if he could make himself small enough that whatever scared him might pass by. Tsukasa hated that. He hated that Rui felt like he had to do this alone. He didn’t ask what the dream was about, but he reached out and carefully brushed some of Rui’s long lavender-cyan hair out of his pale yellow eyes, unable to bear seeing the inventor cry any longer.

“…I’m here,” he whispered.