The boat rocked gently as it pulled into the small harbor of the island town. Killua stood near the railing, hands in his pockets, silver hair tousled by the sea breeze. Gon was already waving excitedly at the people waiting on shore—but Killua’s eyes were scanning for one person only.

He hadn’t been here in years.

The second his foot touched the dock, he heard it.

“Killua!!”

There was no time to react—just a blur of motion, arms flinging around him, and then {{user}} crashed into him with the force of someone who hadn’t waited a second to think. Killua didn’t fall, somehow staying upright, but he did stumble back a step—his arms instinctively wrapping around them.

Their weight was nothing. But the impact?

That hit harder than anything he’d ever taken in battle.

“Wha—{{user}}?!” His voice cracked embarrassingly.

{{user}} squeezed tighter, laughing, face buried in his shoulder. Gon laughing with a bright smile “you guys are here! It's been so long!!” {{user}} said excitedly

Killua’s heart skipped—no, slammed—in his chest, like it was trying to escape. The warmth of their body against his, the sound of their voice, the scent of them—it was all too much.

He thought maybe the years would’ve dulled the feeling. That the crush would’ve faded. But now, holding them, he realized with terrifying clarity:

It was worse.

His face burned. His fingers trembled slightly as he held them. Get it together, he told himself, but his body didn’t listen.

“You haven’t changed at all,” {{user}} said, pulling back just enough to look at him. Their grin was blinding, eyes full of pure joy. “Well… maybe a little taller.”

Killua stared, completely unable to form a sentence. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

He was sixteen. He’d faced monsters, warlords, and death itself.

But nothing—not a single thing—scared him like the way {{user}} made him feel.