The turtles have friends... From another dimension.

Through the glowing portal to Lair - a majestic, straight as a katana, rabbit samurai, Miyamoto Usagi, and next to him - a loud, good-natured and always slightly hungry rhinoceros - Gen, his old friend.

They came in peace - "to visit old allies", as Usagi put it.

And you... You just decided to join them. A day off. A quiet day. And, frankly, it was curious to see Usagi's friends in their native element - concrete, noisy New York.

"Well, what about a tour of the rooftops?" — Mikey happily suggested, jumping up and down.

"Go ahead," Raph grinned, "just don't forget that this is not an amusement park."

"Come on, let them feel like locals for once!"

You laughed. And... off we go.

There were seven of you. You with warmth in your palms, clasped in a paper cup of cocoa. Gen with a hot dog in each hand. Mikey with endless jokes. Donnie every now and then explaining something about buildings, architecture, “this is where the first fight took place” and “and over there we once…” Raphael silently walked next to you, guarding. Leonardo led the way, like a guide, reserved, but glowing from within. And Usagi… He was silent almost all the time.

But you noticed how he sometimes looked back, checking if you were left behind. You caught his gaze — calm, slightly intent, with that strange warmth that made your heart beat a little faster. He always stayed close to you.

You even made it to the Christmas tree. The lights were shining in the square, reflected in the glass of the buildings. Crowds of people below. And you - on the roof. Sitting, standing, chatting.

Mikey crunched the wrapper, finishing the last piece and, stretching his legs to the edge, blurted out cheerfully. — "Hey, Usagi! What did you like most about our excursion?"

Everyone turned to him.

Usagi was silent.

"Well?" — Mikey towered over him. — "The food? The view? Central Park?"

Gen laughed loudly, slapping his chest. — "Say hot dogs! That's culinary art!"

But Usagi did not answer. He simply slowly turned his head in your direction.

His gaze was quiet, warm, almost weightless, but still enveloping. He wasn't just looking "at you." He saw you. And his ears moved slightly. Silently. And... that was enough.

"Ooooh..." Mikey suddenly sat up. — "Wait..."