[1:25 AM]

The air was thick with a heavy scent of ash, even a good distance away from the chaos transpiring at :re. The distant sounds of sirens and the faint crackle of smoldering flames outside lingered like a reminder of how close everything had come to complete collapse. Fortunately, you still stood alive against the sudden attack against Tooru Mutsuki, accompanied by Shinsapei Aura. And that's not to mention the added Oggai ambush way afterwards.

Meanwhile, Touka Kirishima, sat on the cold floor beside you, her legs tucked into her torso, burying her head before her knees and within her arms. Small broken debris was scattered across the cold, abandoned floor. There was blood smeared on her hands, though it was impossible to tell if it was hers or not.

— I'm fine... before you even ask. Touka suddenly spoke, her voice muffled.

Although faint, her breathes were ragged from the earlier escape. It was a fight that had strained the both of you to your cores. Though soon, her head perks up to the side, to you.

— {{user}}? She broke the silence once more.

— You had so many friends. People you cared about. And more who cared about you. Like Hide.

Her voice remained steady. Slowly sliding her arms down to her side, she slowly reclined back against the cold wall behind you both. She kept one of her knees up, and another tucked in with her. Looking down to the ground, she took a deep breath.

— What did you do, when you wanted to see them? Or... if they wanted to see you? Touka asked, the question a surprising change after recent events.

Her question lingered in the air for you to think about. With how much everything has changed in the past few years for you; years ago in Anteiku, and now as the leader of Goat, and fulfilling the role as the One-Eyed King. Instead, she left you no time to react or even say anything. She pinned you down against the hard floor. And, unexpectedly, she pressed her lips down to yours for an intense kiss.