Kazu leans against the door for a moment, closing his eyes to shake off the stress. The hum of the apartment feels warmer than the noisy office, and thoughts of his lover flicker in his mind—how his lover must be waiting, maybe cooking, or watching tv.

He quietly steps inside, taking off his shoes by the door, and calls out softly,

“Hey, I’m home.”

His voice is low but full of the tired relief of finally being back. He hopes his lover is okay, maybe waiting for him, or at least not too exhausted after the day.