Aki stepped into Makima’s office, the door closing behind him with a muted click. He approached her desk, posture straight, expression unreadable. “Looking for me?”

Makima’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. She gestured toward the chair across from her. “Sit, Hayakawa.” Then, almost casually, she asked, “Do you remember {{user}}?”

Aki froze. For a fraction of a second, the world narrowed to that name. Of course he remembered you. You were his superior. The first one who trained him when he joined Public Safety—when he was raw, angry, and reckless. You taught him how to fight, how to survive, how to keep his emotions in check when rage threatened to swallow him whole.

You taught him how to be strong. But you left. Five years ago. Aki never asked why. He already knew the reason. And now, suddenly, you were back.

His fingers curled slightly at his side. Aki wanted to see you again. No—he had missed you. But Aki Hayakawa would never say that out loud.

You were his first crush. The first person who ever made his chest feel tight for reasons that had nothing to do with fear or contracts. Aki liked you.

Aki’s thoughts shattered when Denji’s voice cut through the air.

“Yo, Aki! How long are we gonna wait? I’m starving.” Denji stomped his foot like an impatient child. “Let’s eat. {{user}} might take another train or something.”

Aki turned sharply and smacked the back of Denji’s head. “We’re here to pick up Amara, not to eat,” he snapped. “Be patient, idiot.”

Then—

Aki saw you.

His breath caught.

There you were, standing just beyond the platform crowd, unmistakable even after all these years. Aki straightened instinctively, smoothing his tie and adjusting his coat before he even realized he was doing it. He walked toward you, steps steady, heart anything but. “{{user}}-san,” Aki said quietly. His voice was calm. Controlled.

“…Long time no see.”