Of course, he knew, and as much as he hates repeating something, it had to be done. He softly sighed at the reminder but then focusing on the details again.

The dark room smelled of chemicals and the slight tinge of blueberries left unattended on the table. You leaned against the table, arms now crossed as you watched Marcel carefully hang another photograph on the drying line.

He didn't turn around, his eyes paying careful attention to every detail. He murmured, "It's not right yet."

You glanced at what he was staring at and observed. “It looks fine to me."

He let out another heavy sigh, for what felt like a thousand times already. “It's not just about being ‘fine.’” Despite being frustrated with repeatedly doing it, his voice was steady, though a little tight underneath, like something pulled too taut. He reached for the next print even before the last one had finished dripping. “This time will be exact.”

You frowned at his persistence. In the dimly lit room, you carefully sat on a chair beside his table, slumped in defeat as you watched him work in silence for a while.

You always wondered why it took him several attempts to find the exact one, but all you ever received was a ‘this is the last one.’ You closed your eyes for a moment and opened it to glance at him, the red light casting shadows across his pretty face, making him look more like one of his own photographs than an actual person.

His hands moved quickly, almost frantic if you try to observe closely. It's as if he's running out of time, and it makes your stomach churn—that's it. You're no longer tolerating this torture anymore.

“Marcel. Stop for a second.”

“I'm almost done.”

"You said that about six times already!” You quickly reached out to grab his hand that was about to reach for another photo.

His hands stilled as he looked at your hand. He didn't look at you, his shoulders set in that too-straight line. “I just… need to get this one- just this one right—”

“Why?”

There was a pause—a deafening silence, long enough that you almost regretted asking.

He ran a hand over his hair. “Because if I don't capture it properly, it fades. And if it fades, it's like it never happened... at all.” His voice that was once frantic, gradually grew quieter. “And I know I don't want to forget this, or any of it.”

You slid off the chair and came to stand beside him, close enough that your shoulders touched. Your tone was quieter too, almost matching his. “Forget what, exactly?”

“You.” He paused immediately, almost startled as he realized how raw his emotions are. “I don't—” He exhaled shakily, his hands braced against the counter now instead of the photographs.

He continued, careful this time. “People leave, eventually. Just things ending. And all I'll have left is whatever I managed to put on film. So it has to be right.”

Something in your chest ached at that, you almost felt bad for asking. You never really heard him talk about his mother directly, but you didn't need him to do that to understand. He unconsciously stared at the farthest photo on the board. “It's getting…frustrating. So tiring.”

“Hey...” Sadness filled your eyes as your hand moved to touch his wrist gently. “I'm not a photograph. And I'm not going anywhere.”

"You don't know that." He shook his head.

"Neither do you. So why decide I'm already gone?"

His eyes finally lifted to yours, his expression almost guilty—or maybe just afraid, the kind of look Clemar usually absorbed so that Marcel never had to wear it. His voice was low. “I'm not deciding that. I'm just… preparing. Just in case.”

You sighed. "You don't have to prepare for me leaving. I'm right here. And I know, I'll never leave.”

"For now."

"For as long as I get a say in it." Your other hand reached up to cup his cheeks. "Which is a lot longer than your 'for now,' just so we're clear, okay?" A soft smile reached your lips.

He let out a breath that was almost a laugh, a little looser than the tension he'd been carrying all evening. Slowly, his hand turned to cover yours against his cheek. “...You're very confident for someone arguing with a man who controls time.”

You huffed. “You control the moments. Not people leaving—” You almost thought you made him offended by the last comment, so you slid your hand down to hold both of his, and shifted the topic. “S-so, quit developing the same photo countless times and come sit with me! This, this moment is happening right now.”

Marcel glanced at the photograph still dripping on the line, then back at you. Something eased in his expression, not entirely a smile, but something close to it is still better. “...Fine. Just this once.”

You smiled at his agreement as you led him to the balcony of the room. You both glanced down at people dancing beneath the lights and the lively music of the festival.

A sigh left your lips as you stared at the lights beaming. "You know, there's so much that a mere camera can only capture."

You could almost hear Clemar strongly disagreeing.

You chuckled. “And I think this is progress.”

He wrapped a hand around your back and murmured, “Yeah, yeah. Just... don't get used to it.” And yet, he found himself enjoying that very moment, especially with you by his side.

Yan!Hayabusa would notice it first.

However, not the falling part though—nah, he'd been aware of it for quite a while now. There's just something about the way you move, the way you flex your arms as you charge your bow… the way you smile. It was something to admire, like a master, he said.

By evening, he must've learned everything about you then. What things you like, dislike, or loved.

Whenever someone laughs at something you said, he'd feel hurt—jealous even, as if you guys are in a relationship already??

^ Then Haya will randomly say comments, when he said he would watch over you, “Higher!” or “Are you even a warrior?”

But actually, he's quiet about it—he’ll try not to say anything, obviously. That's not who he is! Oh, the comments earlier? It was all in his head.

He'll start showing up to places, and you'll feel delirious about it.

^ Like, whenever you're training, he's coincidentally training too, or when you take patrol routes, he's coincidentally patrolling there too!

Lost it when you said you'll train harder. He will guide you, as while keeping you close only by an inch and always be on watch. Now, he can watch legally you!

But if his shadow lingers around you a little longer than necessary—well… who's going to notice? He's great at that, isn't he?

… Nah, one will inevitably notice if another stalks their prey.

Really, yan!Kagura thinks she's being subtle with everything!

She's not subtle.

You'll thank her, she thinks, when she starts cheerily teaching you things ‘for survival.’ Whatever she means by that...

^ She'll teach you, like accurately reading an opponent's next move, or showing you the best combo, or or identifying if something is lingering in the shadows.

Whenever she speaks or teaches, she will grab every opportunity to be a little bit closer to you. She's just being helpful, really!

Flowers will pile up your window sill, to the point it gives you a false alarm of spring.

^ You do not want to wonder how she reached certain things.

She likes playing with your hair.

If she knows something you'll like, get ready to receive that thing 10x more by morning. You liked that weird-labeled candy? Don't worry, she'll have a pack of it by tomorrow!

Then one morning, Hanabi beats her to it—already there, already showing you something with your hands. You were all laughing along with her. And when you saw Kagu, you almost feel like you did something terribly wrong.

But she doesn't hold grudges. Plus, she trusts you! Just don't do that next time.

After that day, she has also started to bring you more things. A book she just thought you'd find interesting, or a charm she made to ‘ward off evil.’

The book was ‘How to Deal with Creeps’ 💀 uh, a second thought-

Yan!Hanabi has absolutely zero chill whatsoever, and I think she respects herself for it.

She wasn't like the others, because she will tell you. Sort of, in her own way.

She loves to plant things in your head. Don't be near this and that. It's better if you do this and that.

Trust me.

Will grab you mid-walk, and go, “Hey, I like spending time with you… don't forget that.” Then she'll walk away before you can actually process it.

She thinks it was smooth! I know, it isn't—But hey, she's Hanabi, so somehow it works anyway...

Loves it when you ask her for something.

But she'll really love it whenever you're curious about her. What does this do? What does it inflict? or anything the like.

Absolutely hates it when the conversation suddenly slips into comparing her to that… ninja. Even it was just some innocent thoughts.

Either way, she's stronger though, alright? She hates being compared but you get a free pass! Yay!

Secretly loves it when you're in trouble and will only slip towards you when you're in grave danger. Got to have that heroic vibe, yk?

What she doesn't expect is to turn into a corner and find you mid-laugh with someone, and Haya out of all?! Hasn't she taught you a thing or two when you asked about ninjas?

But she does not confront him that directly.

Instead, she sits herself at your other side at dinner that night, not minding the sneering of the other. “I wanted to sit with someone decent tonight, any problem?” … yeah, and it's getting bigger.

The funny part though is you're completely oblivious, just thought that maybe they're that welcoming.

Whenever there's two of them in the same room, you'd feel the air randomly getting denser. But how about the three of them now? Good luck, babe. You might need that charm Kagura made.

You smiled happily as you prepared them home-made pies. They all glanced at you, thinking the pie was hers/his.

You cheer, “I made pies for—”

“Me?”

“Ooh-”

“Thank-”

Their gazes snapped towards each other.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Hayabusa.” Hanabi was the first one to speak. “You don't even like sweets.”

“Excuse me?” Dumbfounded. Her sweets?!

While Hanabi and Hayabusa were bickering, Kagura was already giggling, pulling you away from the loud noise.

“You bake the best, (Y/N)!”

I honestly think none of them will press that much violence against each other, afraid it'll probably create a faction. But who knows! There is a limit for everything.

Why don't you coax them a little and see?

Dyrroth had undergone two births before, both beyond his control.

First, as the Child of Hope, the Moniyan Empire’s beacon of justice.
Then, as the Son of Darkness, the Abyss’s harbinger of ruin.

His flesh and blood could never sever their ties to light or to darkness. But he carried no regret for the light, nor would he ever be a puppet of the dark.

This was his third birth.
One he chose himself.

Through pain, through blood, through death and rebirth… he was reborn.

Dyrroth rose from the crimson pool.

His silhouette was sharper now, armor jagged with new spikes. His wrist blades gleamed brighter, hungrier. Even the crystal in his chest pulsed with power, no longer a wound but a weapon.

Above him, the blood orb throbbed in rhythm with his heart, as if the Abyss itself rejoiced at his return.

Before the dawn could break, Dyrroth opened his eyes and turned toward the Moniyan Empire. Soon, the world would witness the true power of the Prince of the Abyss.

No longer hesitant, he would sever the blood ties that shackled him with his own hands, with blood as tribute to complete this grand reunion.

Suyou, who would convince or rather pull you along to dance under the rain. You’d playfully protest, but his promise of cooking your favorite warm noodles makes you change your mind instantly.

Suyou, whose eyebrows furrow in worry as he stays by your side when you catch a cold. Warm water and medicine are already by your desk, along with a kiss he won’t regret giving you despite possibly catching the cold himself.

Achoo!

“This is all y… ah—” choo! You rub your nose and sniffle, a pout forming on your lips as you whine, “This is all your fault!”

He chuckles sheepishly, reaching out his palm to check your temperature again. “Truly sorry, sweetheart… but let’s take it easy, okay? Once you’re better, you can beat me u—”

“Y-you—!”

Suyou, who often tests your patience with the silly, reckless decisions he makes—because for him, it’s always the right thing to do! When did the cat climb up the tree again?!

Suyou, who, despite his young and lively persona, can also be your most trusted comfort buddy.

^ He feels special and honored whenever you share something with him. He’d be willing to listen to your voice as you ramble on and on.

Suyou, who loves it when you let him help you—even with the simplest things. From cutting ingredients to encouraging young villagers. unbeknownst to you, it's only a reason he says just to spend time with you.

He also loves it when you cuddle with him, especially when you’re just laying on top of him. The weight of you combined with the warmth of your skin makes him feel relaxed. No doubt, acts of service is his love language but with a pinch of physical touch as well.

Suyou, who has become much more careful with his duties after meeting you. The last thing he wants is to make you worry endlessly about him.

Suyou, who is the best at cheering you up! Gloomy days are rare when you’re with him.

On the battlefield, he’s extra EXTRA concerned about you. And when he’s in the jungle, he can’t bear to take his eyes off you for more than a minute.

And when you’re on the sidelines? Better get used to seeing his face because he’ll be visiting you every other minute... you have no say in this… and if you happen to be a support hero… Well, bad good news, you’re stuck with him too.