Jay's POV
We were all sitting on the couch.
Facing Yuri.
He sat in the single armchair like a judge about to sentence someone. Arms crossed. Jaw tight. Eyes sharp.
He looked like he could fight the furniture.
"Ciel," I muttered, nudging her. "Go calm your boyfriend down."
Chantelle leaned closer and whispered loudly, "Yeah. He looks like a rooster ready for war."
Ciel sighed. "Wish me luck."
She stood up like someone walking toward a volcano and went to sit beside Yuri.
He didn't look at her.
"Yuri…" she started softly.
He exhaled sharply. "What were you thinking?"
Ciel blinked. "I didn't know that would happen."
"You opened the door without checking," he said, finally turning to her. "Careless."
He lifted his hand and lightly pushed her forehead back with two fingers.
Not hard.
But enough.
"I wasn't careless," she protested quietly.
"If I hadn't come to see you today," he continued, voice low, "who knows what would have happened?"
The room went quiet.
I swallowed.
Ciel looked down for a second, then back at him. "But you did come."
That stopped him for half a second.
She placed her hand over his crossed arms. "I'm fine. Jay's fine. Chantelle's fine."
He didn't answer.
She leaned closer and gave him a small peck on the cheek.
"Calm down," she whispered. "It won't happen again."
His jaw tightened, but the storm in his eyes lowered just a little.
Then he turned to me.
"Do you know how worried Keifer would be if he heard what happened here?"
My heart skipped.
"So don't tell him anything," I said quickly.
He shifted his gaze to Chantelle.
"What about you? Does Andy know you're here?"
Chantelle nodded. "Yes, he knows. And please don't tell him anything either."
Yuri shook his head slowly.
Unbelievable.
Then I looked at him. "What are you even doing here?"
He leaned back slightly. "I was sent to deliver something to someone."
Chantelle blinked. "Since when did Yuri Hanamitchi become a delivery boy?"
He pointed at Ciel, who was clinging to his arm like a koala.
"Ever since she became my responsibility."
Ciel smiled proudly.
"Adrian sent snacks for you," Yuri added.
Ciel's eyes widened. "Where are they?"
"Outside."
She jumped up and ran to get them.
When she came back carrying bags, she looked victorious.
"Yes. Finally."
We started settling in.
Then Chantelle's phone buzzed.
She checked it. "He just called. He said he won't be able to come see us today. Tomorrow instead."
"No problem," I said.
I reached to grab a snack.
Yuri's voice cut in.
"Who's he?"
Ciel froze.
"Oh… he's a… um… he's a…"
Yuri's eyes narrowed. "He's a what?"
Ciel swallowed. "He's a doctor that is helping Jay overcome her fear of blood."
Yuri's gaze moved to me slowly.
"Is that why she's not reacting to the injury in her palm?"
I blinked.
"What injury?"
I looked down.
There it was.
A small scratch from when the vase shattered earlier.
I hadn't even noticed.
Chantelle gasped dramatically. "Oh my God, Jay! You're hurt!"
I rolled my eyes. "Relax. It's nothing."
Ciel grabbed my hand immediately.
"It is something," she said seriously. "I don't want your boyfriend to come and kill me because of your injury."
Before I could protest, she dragged me to the kitchen sink.
The water hit the scratch.
It stung.
Not bad.
Just enough to remind me I was human.
Ciel carefully cleaned it and then stuck a plaster on my palm.
I stared at it.
A bandage.
On my palm.
I started laughing.
"Seriously? It's tiny."
"I don't care," Ciel said firmly.
We walked back to the couch.
Yuri was watching us, arms no longer crossed.
Just observing.
Protective.
Still slightly annoyed.
But calmer.
We opened the snacks.
Turned on a movie.
And for the first time since the attack…
The room felt normal again.
Almost.
But somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew—
This wasn't over.
End of Chapter 💫