Hayato knew what would happen. He had just lived it after all. He had desperately clung to his memories, searching for evidence that it had really happened, which the scar on his leg provided... but then eventually the pain of loss had set itself so deeply in Hayato that he thought if it had never happened it would hurt less.

He had begun to close himself off again, actively driving people away... and he had fallen back into arguably his worst habit: recklessly endangering his own life.

But that didn't matter now. Ruutaro was here, and he promised he wouldn't leave again. And while Hayato cared deeply for his boss, and wanted to do everything he could for the Vongola... he really needed this moment alone with his boyfriend.

"Thank god... I missed you so much..."

He tilts Ryuutaro's head up by his chin, and gently begins kissing him.