He didn't consciously realise he'd taken a step forward, or another, or another. Just that he'd seen that smile over and over again, for those last two months, sweet but always hiding some sort of pain, something he could sort of read but never could figure out.

He never bothered to figure out, and he should've. Should've remembered their promise, remembered everything, so that when she died she wasn't alone. So that he could've told her everything. Told her how important she was, that she was the best friend he could've asked for and more, that he didn't want her to go and leave him, not after Chidori and Ryoji...

And when his arms wrapped around the smaller girl, pulling her close with a choked sob, all he could do was thank whoever was listening that he'd get a second chance to do it right.

"M-Minako!!" Fuck, he was crying but he didn't care, holding her tight against him, his shoulders shaking from trying to repress his own sobs. "I-it's really you, r-right...? P-please tell me I'm not dreaming...!"

He was clutching her shirt too tight, probably holding her too tight, but he was just scared if he let go, she'd disappear and... he'd wake up back in the Dorms, all of Saeng Seong's being nothing but a dream.