The day had been long—too long. Classes had dragged on, missions had left your body aching, and whispers had followed you and Crona through the halls of the DWMA as always. You were used to it by now—the way other students would glance your way, murmuring about how “those two are always together,” or how “they’re so weird but kind of cute.” Still, the judgment lingered, sharp as the winter wind that blew through the open courtyards. Crona had held your hand tighter the whole way back, their grip trembling just slightly, like they were afraid that if they let go, the world would swallow them whole.

Now, the two of you were tucked away in the safety of your dorm. The light from the small lamp on your nightstand cast everything in a soft, honey-colored glow. The bed was a comforting mess of pillows and blankets, and the air carried the faint scent of tea you’d shared earlier. Crona lay beside you, one arm draped across your stomach, their pink hair slightly tousled and their cheeks faintly flushed. They looked tired—but peaceful in a way you only ever saw here, with you.

One earbud hung loosely from your left ear, the other in theirs, both connected to your phone resting between you. The music playing was quiet, gentle—just enough to fill the silence without breaking it. “I’m still in love, even when I fall apart…” the lyrics drifted softly through the shared space, carrying something that words alone couldn’t.

Crona’s fingers traced slow, trembling shapes against your arm, like they needed to make sure you were real. “I… I don’t know how I got so lucky,” they whispered, their voice just barely audible over the music. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve to be this happy.”

You turned to face them fully, your forehead brushing theirs as you smiled softly. “You do, Crona. You deserve everything good. You’ve been through so much, and you’re still here—you’re still kind, still loving. You’re my everything.”

Their eyes shimmered a bit in the low light, and their lip quivered as they tried to smile back. “You always say things like that, and I never know how to respond,” they murmured, voice cracking. “But it makes me… feel warm. Safe.”

You reached out, cupping their cheek with your hand. “Then that’s all I need to do.”

For a while, neither of you spoke. The music carried the silence for you, the soft rhythm of the song syncing with the gentle beat of your hearts. “I remember what I thought when I saw you,”

Crona shifted a little closer, their arm tightening around your waist as they buried their face against your neck. You could feel them trembling—whether from emotion or exhaustion, you weren’t sure. You ran your fingers through their hair, humming quietly along with the melody.

“Hey,” you said softly after a moment. “I love you. I really, really do. You’re not alone anymore, okay?”

Their response was muffled against your skin, but you caught it anyway. “I love you too. I don’t… I don’t know how to deal with it sometimes, but I do. I really do.”

You smiled, letting your thumb trace small circles over their hand where it rested on your stomach. “That’s enough for me.”

The night grew quieter, the world outside fading until all that was left was the soft hum of the music and the warmth of the two of you tangled together. The last lyric you heard before your eyes began to close was faint, almost like a promise. “And, I’m still in love.”

And in that moment—in your little shared world of warmth and calm—you knew you both already had.