The apartment was small, but it was cozy in the way that felt lived-in — mismatched mugs on the counter, a small stack of DVDs you both never got around to watching, and a potted plant in the corner that had miraculously survived despite both of you forgetting to water it half the time. Evening sunlight streamed through the blinds, tinting the room in warm orange as Eruka flopped dramatically onto the couch with a groan.

“Ugh, It is too hot.” She kicked her boots off with a thud, stretching her legs across the couch until they landed in your lap. “I swear, if I melt into a puddle, you’re the one cleaning it up, ribbit.”

You laughed, poking her ankle playfully. “Oh, so I get stuck with frog soup duty? That’s fair.”

Eruka narrowed her eyes at you, but her lips twitched into a grin. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” she said, though her tone had no real bite. Her fingers tapped against the couch rhythmically as she glanced around, her ever-present paranoia lingering even in these quiet moments. But when her eyes landed back on you, the tension softened. Here, at least, she could breathe without fear of Medusa’s shadow looming over her.

“You know,” you teased, brushing your thumb across the back of her calf, “if anyone walked in right now, they’d probably think you’re the laziest girlfriend ever.”

“Lazy?!” She shot up, glaring at you as her hair practically bristled. “I’ve been hiding my very illegal existence from Lord Death and every single DWMA student for months! Do you know how stressful that is?!”

You tried not to laugh, but the pout on her face was too much. “Okay, okay, point taken. You’re not lazy. You’re just… selectively energetic.”

Her pout melted into laughter, and she flopped back down beside you this time, resting her head on your shoulder. “Selective, huh? I’ll show you selective when I clean this whole apartment with magic—” She stopped herself mid-sentence, eyes widening. “...But I won’t, because that would be very suspicious.”

The two of you burst into giggles, the kind of laughter that left your ribs aching. Eruka shifted closer, curling up against you, her hand sneaking into yours. “I like this,” she admitted softly, her voice far gentler than usual. “Just… you and me. Normal.”

“Normal’s not bad,” you agreed, squeezing her hand. “Especially when it’s with you.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she buried her face in your shoulder to hide it, mumbling, “Shut up, ribbit…” but the way she clung to you told the truth.