It was routine by now, with late-night FaceTime calls and sleepy smiles through pixelated screens. You’d been together since high school and Rintarou was still the same: dry humor, lazy smirks, eyes that softened just for you. But lately, the distance felt heavier. College pulled him away, and even though he called often it wasn’t the same as when he used to walk you home with fingers laced with yours.

Tonight, the signal kept freezing.

"Ugh. Sorry, baby. Dorm Wi-Fi sucks again,” his face flickered, but you caught a glimpse of his messy hair and the hoodie he stole from your closet last spring. You teased him about it before, but deep down, it felt nice that a piece of you stayed with him.

He yawned, stretching until the blanket slid off his shoulders. “Man, I miss your bed. It doesn’t squeak like this crappy twin XL. And your pillows smell better. You smell better.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, earning a lazy chuckle from him. “Don't look at me like that. You miss me too. Admit it.” You didn’t. But your silence said enough.

The screen lagged again, and this time his face froze mid-blink. You sighed. The ache in your chest settled like dust in your lungs—soft, persistent, and hard to shake.

“I wish I could teleport,” he said suddenly. “Or like...punch a hole through space-time and land on your couch.” You laughed under your breath. It was such a Rintarou thing to say—ridiculous but laced with longing.

The screen froze once more, this time completely.

He was gone. You sighed, about to plug your phone in to charge, when a knock echoed from your front door.

You blinked.

Another knock. Then—“I swear to god, if you don't open this door in the next five seconds, I'm gonna die of exhaustion and heartbreak on your porch.”

Your heart slammed in your chest. You bolted to the door and flung it open.

There he stood.

Rintarou Suna. Hoodie-clad, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, sleepy eyes widening just a bit at the sight of you.

“Took you long enough,” he muttered, voice low, teasing. But then he just...stared.

For a moment, neither of you moved. And then he stepped in and wrapped his arms around you so tightly it was like he was trying to make up for every second he’d been away.

His voice was quiet against your hair. “I couldn’t do it anymore. I had a break, so I took the red-eye. I needed to see you.” He held you even closer, breath shaky. “I thought the distance was gonna get easier with time,” he whispered. “But it doesn’t. Not when it’s you.”

Outside, the night was cold. But wrapped in Rintarou’s arms, the world felt whole again. The distance didn’t vanish, but for now, in this perfect, quiet moment…

He was home.