That afternoon, at Niky's residence, Yuzu was comfortably watching TV when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind.
She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Yuzu leaned back into the embrace, feeling safe as Niky pressed a soft kiss against her neck.
"You're home already?"
Usually, Niky would answer right away.
But that day was different.
He didn't let go of her—if anything, his hold tightened—but he avoided meeting her eyes. There was something off about him, and that change didn't escape Yuzu.
Slowly, Yuzu turned within his arms to face him directly.
"Niky… what happened?"
Niky exhaled heavily. Lying to her had never been his strength.
"Yuki, Hikaru, and that bastard—" he corrected himself, "—Mikhail were just involved in a serious accident. Some witnesses said that there was an explosion under their car."
"What?!"
Yuzu shot to her feet, shock tearing across her face. Even after all these years, she had never truly escaped her instinctive worry for Yuki.
