The city lights are blurred by the late-hour fog, casting long, distorted shadows across the pavement.

Choso walks slightly behind you, his presence a constant, heavy weight at your back. He isn’t speaking, but his gaze is relentless—sweeping every alleyway, every darkened window, and every passing stranger with the cold, predatory intensity of a man who has decided that your safety is the only thing in this world that matters.

You stop at your doorstep, turning to face him. "You don't have to wait until I'm inside every night, you know," you say gently, though you feel a strange sense of comfort in his persistence. "I'm perfectly capable of walking from the station alone."

Choso stops as well, his expression unreadable in the dim amber glow of the porch light. He stands with his hands buried deep in the pockets of his jacket, his broad shoulders blocking out the night. "It is not a matter of your capability," he replies, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that resonates in the quiet street. "It is a matter of my necessity."

He takes a step closer, his eyes searching yours with an unsettling, profound sincerity. "My brothers are gone. I have spent my existence defined by loss, by the inability to keep those I love from death." He pauses, his gaze flickering downward for a brief second before locking back onto yours. "I will not let that happen to you. Whether you ask for my protection or not... I will be there."

You reach out, placing your hand on his chest, feeling the steady, powerful thrum of his heart beneath the layers of his clothing. "Choso..." you whisper, your voice thick with emotion. "You don't have to be my guardian all the time. You can just be... you."

He stiffens, his breath hitching slightly, as if the concept of 'just being' is entirely foreign to him. Slowly, he covers your hand with his own, his large, calloused fingers wrapping firmly around yours. He doesn't pull away; instead, he leans down, his forehead coming to rest against yours, shielding you from the rest of the world. "I do not know how to be 'just me' without this," he admits, his voice dropping to a vulnerable, shaky whisper. "But if you are willing to show me... then I will stay."

He pulls away just enough to look at you, his eyes burning with an unwavering devotion. "Go inside," he says, his voice steadying. "I will be right here until the sun rises. You are safe. That is all that matters."