Ren slowly turned around.
He didn't immediately return to her side.
Instead—
He stood a few steps away.
Quietly watching her.
"It's not 'meddling.'"
His voice finally broke the silence.
There was something unusually direct in his tone.
"Your problems are my problems."
After saying that—
He stepped forward.
The distance between them disappeared.
Without hesitation—
He opened his arms.
And gently embraced the girl sitting in the shadows.
Carefully.
As if she might break.
The moment his arms closed around her—
Touka Kirishima's body stiffened.
She could feel his heartbeat.
Steady.
Strong.
His warmth seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes.
This closeness was far more overwhelming than the brief touch before.
Instinctively—
She wanted to resist.
To push him away.
Like a hedgehog raising its quills.
But the warmth surrounding her softened her defenses.
He didn't force her.
He simply held her.
His chin rested lightly on the top of her head.
One hand gently supported her back.
The other protected the back of her head.
Guiding her cheek against his shoulder.
Shielding her from the ruined café around them.
For a moment—
Time seemed to stop.
Even the cold wind blowing through the shattered windows felt distant.
Touka's rigid body began to tremble.
Not from fear.
But from emotions finally reaching their breaking point.
The dam collapsed.
"…Ugh…"
A suppressed sob escaped her lips.
Then another.
Then another.
Hot tears burst free.
Soaking the fabric of his shoulder.
Her fingers clutched tightly at his coat.
Knuckles turning white.
She buried her face against him.
Unable to suppress the sobs any longer.
The cries echoed softly through the ruined café.
Like the wounded cry of a lost animal.
Pain.
Frustration.
Loneliness.
And worry for her brother.
Ren tightened his embrace.
Holding her closer.
His hand gently patted her back.
Over and over.
His other hand remained protectively over her head.
Shielding her.
From the world.
He felt the trembling in her body.
The warmth of her tears.
His gaze drifted toward the dark night outside the broken window.
His expression complicated.
Gradually—
Her sobbing softened.
From heart-wrenching cries…
To quiet sniffles.
Her trembling slowly faded.
Her body relaxed.
Melting into his arms.
Like ice dissolving in warm water.
She still clung to his clothes tightly.
As if letting go would make her fall apart again.
Her face remained buried in his shoulder.
Breathing in the faint scent of him.
Mixed with the salty taste of tears.
Inside the ruined café—
Only two sounds remained.
Her fading sobs.
And his steady heartbeat.
It felt as though they might remain like that forever.
Until—
Footsteps.
Soft.
Careful.
Trying not to disturb.
But impossible to completely hide.
"…Uh…"
An awkward voice broke the silence.
"Did we… come at a bad time?"
Two figures stood in the doorway.
Backlit by the dim streetlights.
Enji Koma and Kaya Irimi.
Koma's eyes widened.
His mouth hung slightly open.
Clearly stunned by the scene before him.
Irimi remained calmer.
But even she couldn't hide the brief surprise in her eyes.
Her gaze quickly swept across the destroyed café.
Broken doors.
Shattered glass.
Overturned furniture.
Finally—
Her eyes returned to the two figures in the center of the room.
Her expression grew complicated.
The moment Koma spoke—
Touka's body froze.
Every trace of vulnerability vanished instantly.
Replaced by overwhelming embarrassment.
She tried to escape his arms immediately.
Almost tripping in her haste.
Ren instinctively tightened his arms for a moment.
Then slowly released her when he felt her resistance.
He lowered his head slightly.
Looking at the girl hiding her face inside his coat collar.
The blush spreading to her ears was impossible to hide.
"…Ahem."
Koma coughed awkwardly.
Scratching his curly hair.
"Uh… the manager called us."
"He was worried."
"So we came back to check."
His gaze drifted across the ruined café.
"…Did the CCG drive a tank through here?"
Irimi stepped inside calmly.
Carefully avoiding the glass shards.
Her eyes scanned the destruction.
Then returned to Ren.
"People from Aogiri Tree?"
She asked quietly.
He nodded.
"There were several."
"But it's handled."
He shifted slightly.
Subtly placing himself between them and Touka.
Blocking their view.
Behind him—
Touka quickly wiped her face with her sleeve.
Trying to hide the traces of tears.
She forced herself to stand upright.
Stepping out from behind him.
Her eyes were still red.
Her face slightly swollen.
But the familiar cold sharpness had returned to her gaze.
Only the faint trembling of her fingers betrayed her earlier breakdown.
Irimi understood immediately.
She asked no further questions.
Instead she turned to Koma.
"Stop staring."
"Get a broom and trash bags."
"We need to clean this up before someone gets hurt."
"Huh? Oh—right!"
Koma immediately rushed toward the kitchen.
Moving far faster than necessary.
As if escaping the awkward scene behind him.
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