The air felt electric as the studio door clicked shut behind them. Rin stood frozen for a second, back to the door, chest rising and falling in uneven beats. The way Than had looked at him just now—as if Rin was the only thing anchoring him to this world—made his heart stumble.
Than didn't speak immediately. He leaned against the wall near the couch, the tension bleeding off him in slow waves. His jaw flexed, eyes dark as they followed Rin in the silence.
"You okay?" Rin finally asked, voice low.
Than huffed a short, bitter laugh. "Am I? I don't even know anymore."
Rin approached carefully, but didn't sit. "You didn't have to throw punches today."
"I know." Than pushed his hand through his hair. "But I saw the way Ares was looking at you, like he owned the right to touch you. I couldn't stand it."
"You don't own me either."
Than's lips twitched. "I know that too. But Rin... this thing between us? It stopped being casual a long time ago."
That made Rin freeze. Not because it was shocking, but because it was finally spoken out loud. The truth had been there all along, simmering beneath glances and near touches. But now Than had cracked it wide open.
The knock on the door startled them both.
Rin opened it to find Leo, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"Wow. Thought I'd have to pull you two off each other," Leo muttered. "Looks like I'm late."
"How did you know we were here?" Rin asked.
Leo leaned casually against the doorframe. "Mai told me. She said your aura was off when you left, and Than's was worse. I took a wild guess."
Rin sighed, stepping aside. "Come in."
Leo entered with a small smile, scanning the space. "Nice tension in here. Tastes like unresolved issues and about fifty unspoken feelings."
"Shut up," Rin muttered.
"I'm serious. You look like you just got steamrolled by a hurricane, and Than here looks like he's still standing in the eye of it."
Than let out a soft, dry chuckle. "Accurate."
Leo dropped into a chair, spinning slightly. "Look, I get it. Things are messy. But this... whatever this is... needs some boundaries. Or clarity. Preferably both."
Than's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "You're right."
Leo lifted a brow. "Wow. That's rare. Someone record that."
Rin smirked, despite himself.
A knock echoed again, this time softer. Rin frowned and opened it—revealing Mai, holding two iced coffees and a bag of sour candy.
"I figured things were messy in here," she said, stepping inside. "You look like you haven't blinked in twenty minutes, Rin."
"It's been a day," Rin muttered.
Mai tossed a candy into her mouth and held the bag toward Than. "Want one? Might help with that scowl."
Than stared at her, bemused, before taking one. "Thanks."
Mai's gaze softened as she sat beside Leo. "Listen, if we're going to war with the universe, we should at least be coordinated. What's our plan?"
Rin blinked. "War?"
"Against fake people, manipulative exes, and shady rivals like Ares."
"You forgot lying parents and secrets from the grave," Leo added.
Mai pointed. "Exactly. We need allies."
Than, surprisingly, didn't argue. He looked at Rin and said, "We do."
For a moment, they all sat in silence, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them. And then, like a crack in the surface, something shifted. They weren't alone anymore. Whatever storm was coming—and it was coming fast—they wouldn't face it unarmed.
Later that night, Rin sat in his room, scrolling through his messages. One stood out from an unknown number:
"We need to talk. -Kieran."
Rin stared at the screen, pulse stuttering.
As if summoned by memory, another buzz came. This time, it was a DM.
"Still miss me? -Your favorite mistake."
His blood ran cold. The username was unmistakable. It was his ex. The one who disappeared without a trace.
Downstairs, Than stood alone in the hallway, staring at his phone. His sister had messaged him too.
"Are you finally going to tell him the truth about Jin? Or will you lose him too?"
Than closed his eyes. Every buried secret was crawling its way to the surface.
And this time, there would be no escape.