The sky had already begun to darken when the two of you walked along the riverbank. Fireflies drifted above the grass, their soft glow dotting the path. “Hikaru” walked beside you with his hands shoved into his pockets, looking every bit like the boy everyone else still thought he was.

He bent down to grab a flat stone, weighing it in his palm before flicking it across the surface. It skipped once, then sank. His lips tugged upward in a smile that was almost convincing.

“Guess I’m a little out of practice.” He chuckled faintly, but his eyes slid to you, watching carefully. When you didn’t laugh, his smile twitched, something bitter hiding beneath it.

“You liked it better when he did this, didn’t you?” The words were light, almost teasing, but the tone carried an edge that cut sharper than a joke. He tossed another stone, harder this time. It sank immediately.

He sighed, brushing his hands off on his pants. “Funny. No matter what I do, it’s never quite right. It’s always his way, isn’t it?”

His hand found yours suddenly, fingers curling tight. His grip wasn’t painful, but there was no mistaking the possessiveness in the gesture. His smile returned, softer now, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Well. You’re here with me now. Not him.” His thumb brushed over your knuckles, slow and deliberate, as his voice dropped to something quieter. “That has to count for something… right, {{user}}?”

He laughed under his breath, the sound light but not quite natural, echoing faintly against the river’s steady flow.