The city stretched before them, quiet. Peaceful.
Yumi stood at the edge of the rooftop, arms resting on the railing.
The same rooftop she and Nao used to sit on.
Watari stepped up beside her.
She didn’t look at him, just exhaled.
“Didn’t think I’d make it back here.”
Watari watched her.
“You did.”
A small, almost sad smile.
“I did.”
Silence.
Then, softly—
“Nao would’ve liked you.”
Watari blinked.
“…You think so?”
She nodded.
“Yeah.”
Another pause. Then—
“Watari.”
He turned.
She hesitated. Exhaled sharply. Looked up at him.
“I—”
She didn’t finish.
She didn’t need to.
Because he already knew.
His hand moved over hers.
Her fingers curled slightly in response.
Watari’s voice was low. Steady.
“I know. I do too.”
And then—
She leaned in.
Her eyes half-lidded, the warmth between them undeniable.
But just as their lips nearly met—
“Oi.”
A loud, deliberate cough.
Yumi froze.
Watari’s eyes barely flickered before the moment was completely shattered.
Standing at the entrance of the rooftop, leaning against the frame—
was Ren.
Arms crossed. Smirk barely contained.
Behind him, Ryuko and Akira.
Yumi inhaled slowly through her nose, her fingers twitching against Watari’s hand.
You have got to be kidding me.
Watari just sighed.
Ren stepped forward first, rubbing the back of his neck, not even pretending to feel bad about interrupting.
“Look, I get it. Romance, moonlight, all that. But if we’re being real here—”
Ryuko snorted.
“You’re on an old Musabori rooftop, dumbasses. Of course someone was gonna show up.”
Yumi turned, deadpan gre fully engaged.
“And the first thing you do is ruin the moment?”
“Hey,” Akira coughed, his voice tired but amused, “Ryuko was the one who insisted on crashing it.”
“Lies.”
Yumi exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“You three are actually the worst.”
Watari chuckled, shaking his head.
“It’s fine,” he muttered. “Honestly, I figured they’d do this.”
Yumi shot him a look, but before she could retort, Ren’s expression softened.
“…We just didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”
The rooftop went quiet again.
Akira sighed, shifting his weight slightly—his single arm still bandaged, but his posture still strong.
“I figure we’ll all see each other again eventually. But just in case…”
Ryuko stretched his arms behind his head, smirking.
“Yeah, yeah. Sappy shit. I get it.”
Then, his smirk twitched slightly, shifting into something a little more real.
“Still. You made it out, kid. Even after all that. Not bad.”
Watari raised an eyebrow.
“You sound almost proud of me, Ryuko.”
“Tch. Don’t get used to it.”
Akira let out a dry chuckle.
“He means to say, ‘Take care of yourself.’”
Ryuko scoffed.
“That is not what I meant to say.”
Ren sighed, shaking his head.
“We’re not great at this whole goodbye thing.”
Watari smirked.
“Good. Because I wasn’t pnning on saying goodbye.”
Yumi’s expression softened slightly at that.
Ren nodded.
“Guess that makes it easier then.”
A pause. Then—Ryuko exhaled, looking at Watari one st time.
“…You better not fall behind.”
Watari smirked.
“Me? Never.”
Ryuko’s grin widened.
“Good. Because when you’re done pying hero…”
He cracked his neck.
“You still owe me a fight.”
Yumi groaned.
“Why is that your first thought after everything?”
Ryuko shrugged.
“It’s just the way of things.”
Watari just ughed, shaking his head.
“Fine. I’ll be waiting.”
The wind stirred gently around them.
No more battles. No more running.
Just the five of them—together, even if only for a moment.
And then—one by one—they left the rooftop.
Until only Watari and Yumi remained.
Yumi turned back toward him, rolling her eyes.
“They really couldn’t wait, huh?”
Watari smiled, looking at her—really looking at her.
Yumi exhaled softly, shaking her head.
Then—she leaned in.
And this time—there was nothing left to interrupt them.
