The three years that had blurred into a haze began to slow in the presence of Haruki. Warmth and light settled into Lanling's heart, as familiar as ever.
As the days passed, their bond began to grow again, slowly inching toward the way it had once been. Lanling struggled to hold back, but it didn't help that Haruki was unconsciously closing the distance between them, his every move drawing them closer in ways that Lanling could hardly fight.
The struggle deepened every time Haruki spoke, his promises spilling out as if, deep down, he was still reaching for Lanling—even without his memories. Haruki's words were like tendrils creeping through the cracks of Lanling's heart, and it was hard to keep himself from unraveling in the wake of them.
"I'll be the perfect knight to you, Lanling!"
'You silly head, you already are.'
"You exist in my present, and I'll make sure you're in my future. Whatever it was in our past can stay there."
