He finally came back to Germany in the evening. The good thing was that you weren’t in college when he arrived, so you managed to meet him right at the airport.

Ever since your bodies pressed together after the hug, you could sense something slightly different about him. He didn’t seem to have fully enjoyed his trip to Japan for the NEL, but despite that, he looked genuinely happy to see you again.

It was clear how much he had been longing to be close to you by how clingy he was—especially now that you guys were laying in bed after arriving at your shared apartment.

“Mein Liebschen... I wonder how you spent your days while I was away.”

That look in those familiar magenta eyes was filled with warmth as he gently twirled a strand of your hair. His tone was soft and reserved, the kind you often heard when his emotions were laid bare. Maybe whatever he had with Kaiser—whether it was true friendship or something more—had made him realize just how tangled his feelings really were. Yet, finally, being in his partner’s presence seemed to soothe his restless nerves.