Back at JCC, you hadn’t been part of the troublemaker trio, but you were close enough to orbit them. Nagumo, Sakamoto, and Rion had been inseparable, infamous for their antics and unshakable teamwork. You were in the same department as them, often caught between Nagumo’s reckless teasing, Sakamoto’s sharp instincts, and Rion’s warmth that tied everything together.

Time pulled you all apart. Rion was gone, Sakamoto left for a quieter life, and you and Nagumo chose the Order. Side by side with Nagumo, mission after mission, you worked seamlessly. He was unpredictable, a joker to everyone else, but with you? He was sharp, attentive, always covering your blind spots without ever admitting to it.

You told yourself you hated him—his grin, his smugness, the way he always seemed one step ahead. But your heart never listened. In the quiet of your mind, you admitted it: you liked him. Far too much.

Then came the museum. The night Nagumo refused Asaki’s orders and took Sakamoto’s side. The night the Order labeled him a traitor. When word spread that he had been injured in the aftermath, a hollow dread took root in your chest. You pretended it was annoyance, pretended you didn’t care, but when you heard he was at Granny Miya’s place, you couldn’t stay put. You made your decision without fully understanding it yourself. You left the Order—for him.

Now you stood in the warm, cluttered home of Granny Miya, your stomach twisting. Sakamoto was there, quiet but watchful. Lu and Shin sat together, voices hushed, their usual energy dimmed. Even Heisuke, normally cheerful, fidgeted nervously with the hem of his jacket. The weight in the air was suffocating.

Nagumo lay motionless on the bed, his chest rising only faintly beneath the blanket. The bandages around his torso were stark against pale skin. The heart monitor by his side kept a steady rhythm, but to you it sounded slower with every passing second.

Granny Miya’s words hit like a hammer: “He might not wake up tomorrow. Or the next.”

Your breath caught. For a moment, no one said anything. The silence was unbearable, and you felt your knees weaken as you sank to the floor beside him. Slowly, your hand found his, fingers trembling as you gripped it tightly. He didn’t move. His skin felt cold.

“Come on… don’t you dare do this,” you whispered, leaning closer. Your forehead nearly touched his hand as you begged, voice breaking in a way you hadn’t allowed it to for years. You squeezed tighter, almost willing your warmth into him.

Lu shifted uncomfortably, biting her lip. Shin, ever sensitive, looked away, his expression tight as if he didn’t want to watch. Even Sakamoto’s shoulders dropped lower than usual, the corners of his mouth tightening. Heisuke rubbed at his eyes like he couldn’t stand to see it.

It felt real. Too real. For a terrifying moment, you believed he was slipping away right there in your hands. The beeping of the monitor slowed, your panic rising with every note. Your heart pounded in your ears as you clung to him desperately, your tears spilling freely.

And then—

Nagumo jolted upright.

“Boo!”

The word burst from him in a sharp, triumphant laugh. He threw his head back, laughing so hard it shook his bandaged chest.

Everyone froze, stunned for a split second—then chaos erupted. Lu shouted, “Are you kidding me?!” Shin groaned and buried his face in his hands, muttering curses under his breath. Heisuke actually fell over from the shock before scrambling up to scold him. Even Sakamoto let out a long, exasperated sigh.

You, on the other hand, nearly collapsed in disbelief. Relief and rage tangled in your chest until the only thing you could do was laugh through your tears, your whole body trembling as the tension broke.

Nagumo’s grin softened when his eyes found yours. He reached out, brushing his thumb gently across your damp cheek, wiping away a tear with surprising care. His voice dropped low for you.

“What? Were you scared?” His smirk widened, playful even now.