The black car disappeared down the street, leaving behind only a fading trail of exhaust and a knot in Nori's stomach.
He stood there for a while, dumbfounded. Worried. Scared for Eric—but he held onto the last thing Eric said.
"I'll be fine. I'm coming back."
So Nori nodded to himself, trying to believe it, and flagged down a taxi.
The ride home was quiet, filled with unanswered questions and silent prayers.
But as the taxi pulled up to his apartment complex and Nori stepped out, his heart skipped a beat.
There, leaning casually against the wall by the entrance, dressed in black with a cigarette burning between his fingers—
Ryusuke.
Nori stilled his racing heart, straightened his shoulders, and forced calm into his steps. Confidence—real or not—was his only armor.
Ryusuke lifted his gaze lazily, cigarette between his fingers, eyes sharp beneath the dim streetlight.
