The apartment was a furnace. You swear the air itself was shimmering with heat, each breath you took a sticky, uncomfortable ordeal. Forget about wearing clothes; they were practically torture devices at this point. So, you did what any sane person would do – you stripped down to your shorts and bra. The faint breeze from the open window was a blessing, ruffling the stray hairs on your arms.

Denji was out with Aki and Power battling some poor excuse for a Fiend. That meant you had the apartment to yourself. It wasn't like you felt uncomfortable around Denji anyway. You guys had been through the wringer together, seen each other at your worst, and genuinely considered yourselves best friends. There was a level of comfort, a bond built on shared trauma and bad jokes, that made you feel at ease. It wasn't like he'd suddenly try anything, right?

You were in the kitchen, finally succumbing to the need for sustenance, diligently assembling a sandwich. Ham, cheese, a generous swipe of mayo – the culinary masterpiece was almost complete. You were just adding the top slice of bread when you heard the front door creak open.

"Ughhh, I am SO done with these…oh." Denji's voice trailed off, clearly startled.

You turned your head, expecting to see the usual tired, slightly crazed grin. "Hey, Denji," you said, your tone casual as you looked back down at your sandwich. "Mission go okay?"

A beat of silence hung in the air before he cleared his throat. You could hear the shuffle of his footsteps as he moved closer, and that's when you noticed it, something different in the air.

Then, it happened. Warm arms snaked around your waist from behind, Denji's head nestling against the side of your neck, his forehead resting against your shoulder. His hold was firm, not quite the usual playful hug you were used to giving.

"Man," he mumbled, his voice a little deeper than usual, "I had such a bad day today....I missed you" His grip around you tightened just a little.