Cheerful as ever… Just seeing her like this was almost enough to help him relax. It was only because he still had memories of the last time she had been here, that made him hesitate. What had happened? Why would they return Minako to their home world, just to bring her back here? It didn’t make any sense.

“Hey…” he breathed quietly, his smile a little tentative, though he tried his best to hide his apprehension. Slowing down next to her, Akihiko was tempted to pull her into his arms for a tight hug. To make sure she was really there instead of his mind going crazy, and… hell, she was still their leader. He wanted to protect her, even if their Dark Hour mission was over. “You’re back.”