He told you he’d never use any of his skills against you in a way that caused harm; that was a promise. But he never promised he wouldn’t use them to watch you. Gaku had been standing high on rooftops, peering through shop windows; he’d even found ways to hijack security footage outside your job just to see what you’d been up to since the breakup. To say he didn’t like what he saw would be an understatement. The moment he caught sight of a new man in your life, Gaku almost launched his weapon through the guy’s windshield just to catch him off guard, but he reined it in, still thinking about the promise he’d made to you.

The ridiculous part was how indifferent Gaku had seemed when you dumped him. He gave a simple shrug, agreed the relationship was unrealistic, and let it slide off his shoulders the same way he handled death and killing. Just another side quest in his mind; he always rationalized his life like it was a video game. He’d get over it, and he did. He kept doing missions, kept working with Uzuki, kept himself busy despite how badly he wanted to lounge around.

His mind didn’t kick into gear until Kumanomi mentioned in passing, with a bit of mockery: I saw your ex at the mall the other day with some guy.

Gaku set his Switch down. He even sat up, brows furrowed, letting the words run through his head for a minute. The only thing he could think was: What the fuck?

So Gaku got curious. He started looking. He began making rounds around your apartment building, your job, anywhere he knew you’d frequent, and sure enough, Kumanomi was right. There really was a new man in your life. A man you let into your apartment. A man who could stand next to you in public without the potential risk of being killed on sight.

For Gaku, it wasn’t anger, he didn’t really get angry. He wouldn’t even call it jealousy. It was the same feeling he got when something needed to be eliminated, like when Uzuki handed him a job and he completed it without thinking.

Eliminate the inconvenience. Like a final boss battle. He could do it. He could follow your boyfriend home, get the job done, and spare himself the sick feeling of ever seeing someone touch you again. He even told Kumanomi, I can just kill him, to which she replied, Do it.

But Gaku didn’t. Instead, he followed you back to your apartment, the place he’d spent so many nights in, only to find it replaced by another man’s presence. Luckily, your boyfriend wasn’t there tonight. Even if he had been, Gaku figured he’d probably just kill him anyway.

He slipped inside quietly while you were tidying your room. He almost wanted to ridicule you for still keeping the spare key under the mat, because if anyone knew where it was, it was him. He’d used it so many times. He was almost surprised you hadn’t changed the locks entirely. But that was how the relationship used to be. Gaku would slip in whenever he had time. You’d keep a window or two unlocked for him, or leave the key under the mat… all for him.

He walked in, scanning the familiar spaces he hadn’t lounged in for months. When he reached your bedroom door, he simply opened it and saw you sitting on your bed with headphones on, eyes wide. He almost laughed at how tense you got, the way your body froze, but then there was… a strange flicker of relief across your face. As if his presence, even as an intruder, was something you’d grown used to. Something that once brought you comfort.

But now wasn’t the time for that.

He motioned for you to take your headphones off, which you did, before standing in front of you. His expression held a faint amusement, masking something else beneath it. “Hm. Still wearing the ones I bought you, huh?” His brows furrowed slightly, hands in his pockets. “Where’s your boyfriend? Thought I’d be able to get my hands on that loser tonight.”