At the café, Mahiru's soft laughter filled the cozy atmosphere as she leaned across the table, resting her chin in her hand. "He what?" she asked, her tone incredulous but amused.

Hannah rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, stirring her drink lazily with the straw. "He completely flipped out!" she said, still clearly annoyed by the whole thing. "Like, full-on meltdown. You should've seen him, he was furious about me coming here to hang out with you. And get this, he even threatened to kill me."

Mahiru's eyes widened in surprise, though a small, disbelieving smile tugged at her lips. "Wait, are you serious? He actually said that?"

Hannah nodded, slouching back into her chair. "Oh, not just that. He pointed a gun at me, Mahiru! Like he was really gonna intimidate me into staying at the manor."

Mahiru burst into laughter, shaking her head in disbelief. "He didn't!"

"Oh, he absolutely did." Hannah grumbled, crossing her arms. "Like that's supposed to scare me at this point. I know Fuyuhiko, he's all bark, no bite when it comes to me. But still, the audacity! All because I wanted to come hang out with you for a few hours."

Mahiru continued laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. "That sounds exactly like him. You'd think after everything, he'd be used to you doing what you want by now."

"Right?" Hannah agreed, throwing her hands up in mock defeat. "I swear, the guy's got some kind of control complex. Thinks he can boss me around just because he's... Fuyuhiko. But I'm not some pushover."

Mahiru leaned forward, her expression playful but with a hint of something more serious behind it. "Honestly Hannah, you don't even need him. I don't know why you let Fuyuhiko boss you around like that. You could easily just go back home to your mansion. You're a Togami, for crying out loud."

Hannah raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by Mahiru's sudden turn in tone. "What do you mean? It's not like I let him boss me around. He just... gets under my skin sometimes."

Mahiru chuckled, shaking her head. "But you know what I'm saying, right? You don't have to deal with all that Kuzuryu nonsense. Fuyuhiko acts like he runs your life, but you could walk away from all that anytime. You don't need him, Hannah."

Hannah shifted in her seat, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "It's not that simple," she muttered, stirring her drink absently. "Besides, the Kuzuryus have done a lot for me. It's not just Fuyuhiko, it's his whole family."

Mahiru's expression softened, but there was a glint in her eyes as she pressed on. "Yeah, but is it worth all the stress? Think about it. He's always controlling, always in your business. Like today, for example. Pulling a gun on you over something so stupid. You shouldn't have to deal with that."

Hannah frowned, the thought gnawing at her as she considered Mahiru's words. It was true, Fuyuhiko could be overbearing, and their constant clashes weren't exactly healthy. But leaving wasn't that easy. The Kuzuryu family had been like a second home to her, even with Fuyuhiko's intense personality.

Mahiru's voice softened, becoming more persuasive. "I just think you'd be happier if you went back to your own life. Why stay with people who clearly don't trust you to make your own decisions? I mean, you've got a place at home where you don't have to constantly prove yourself, right?"

Hannah let out a small sigh, her fingers playing with the edge of her cup. "It's not that I don't think about it. But it's complicated."

"Is it really, though?" Mahiru pressed, her gaze unwavering. "I mean, come on, Hannah. You're strong, independent. You don't need someone like Fuyuhiko hovering over you, pretending to be your protector when he's just suffocating you."

Hannah bit her lip, conflicted. She didn't want to admit that Mahiru had a point, but the argument was there, simmering in her mind. Fuyuhiko's protectiveness often crossed the line into control, and she did hate feeling like she was being smothered by his constant presence.

Still, she couldn't shake the loyalty she felt towards him, towards his family. There was a connection, no matter how complicated it got.

Hannah sighed, shaking her head as she leaned back in her chair. "Mahiru, it's not that simple. If I left the Kuzuryus right now, it'd be like going against my father's word. He specifically arranged for me to stay with them while he's away on business with the rest of the clan. It's not just about Fuyuhiko, this is about my family."

Mahiru's playful smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "But your dad wouldn't want you to be miserable, would he? I mean, what's more important, keeping some family deal, or your own happiness?"

Hannah hesitated, her fingers tapping nervously on the edge of the table. "It's not about being miserable, Mahiru. My father's got a reputation to protect. If I just left the Kuzuryus, it would look bad, not just for me, but for the entire Togami family. I'm supposed to be under their care while he's gone. Walking away from that would be like disrespecting the arrangement he made with them."

Mahiru leaned forward, her expression softening as she tried to understand. "I get that, but... it feels like you're stuck in a situation where everyone's controlling what you do. Do you really think your dad would care that much about the deal if he knew how overbearing Fuyuhiko's been?"

Hannah shrugged, a frown tugging at her lips. "It's not about how I feel. It's about loyalty. My father's always been clear about that. As much as Fuyuhiko drives me insane, I can't just walk away from the responsibility my family placed on me. My father trusts me to handle this. If I left, it'd be like betraying that trust."

Mahiru let out a small sigh, her eyes searching Hannah's for some sign of doubt. "It just seems like a lot of pressure. You're doing all this to keep your dad's word, but it's costing you your own freedom. Isn't there some middle ground? Like, can't you talk to your father about it?"

Hannah shook her head firmly. "He's busy. There's no way I'm going to bother him with something like this when he's dealing with important business. Besides, it's not like I'm completely miserable. Fuyuhiko's just... a pain. But I can handle it. It's only temporary."

Mahiru raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "But is it really worth it? I mean, even if it's temporary, don't you think you deserve to live without constantly being on edge? You're always arguing with Fuyuhiko, and it's like you can't even breathe without him having something to say about it."

Hannah sighed again, running a hand through her hair. "I know, I know. It's frustrating. But I can't just abandon my father's decision. If I do, it'll make things worse. I'll deal with Fuyuhiko's crap for now, and when my dad gets back, everything will go back to normal."

Mahiru studied Hannah's face for a moment, then leaned back with a resigned smile. "Alright, I get it. You've got a lot on your plate. But if it ever gets too much... just remember you've got other options, okay? You don't have to stay stuck in this situation if it's really hurting you."

Hannah smiled faintly, appreciating Mahiru's concern despite the difficult position she was in. "Thanks, Mahiru. I'll keep that in mind." She paused, her thoughts swirling. "But for now... I've got to stick it out. That's just how it is."

Mahiru shrugged, giving her a knowing smile. "Just think about it, okay? You don't owe them anything. If Fuyuhiko's going to keep acting like he owns you, maybe it's time to remind him that you're your own person. You deserve better than that."

Hannah nodded absently, her mind racing. She wasn't sure if Mahiru's words were sinking in, but they left a heavy feeling in her chest, one she couldn't easily ignore.

~

As Hannah stepped out of the café, she immediately noticed how much darker it had gotten. The streetlamps flickered softly, casting long shadows along the quiet streets. Mahiru waved goodbye, her home just a short walk down the road. Hannah waved back with a tired smile, but the reality of her own much longer journey home sank in quickly.

She pulled her hoodie tighter around her as she walked, feeling the cool night air settle against her skin. The night seemed quieter than usual, only the sound of her footsteps echoing off the wet pavement.

Then, without warning, the rain began to fall. Light at first, but it soon turned into a steady downpour. Hannah groaned, quickly pulling up her hood, but the thin fabric did little to protect her from the cold raindrops. Within minutes, the rain had soaked through her clothes, making the fabric stick uncomfortably to her skin. The chill hit her hard, her body shivering as the cold air bit through her damp hoodie and jeans.

"Great. Just perfect." she muttered to herself, hugging her arms to her chest as she picked up her pace. Every step splashed in the forming puddles beneath her, her shoes squelching with water. She hadn't realized just how far the walk was until now, her body growing colder with each passing minute.

The rain only seemed to get heavier, the streets now deserted, leaving her alone with nothing but the sound of the downpour and her own hurried footsteps. Her teeth began to chatter, and her breath came out in short, visible puffs. Despite her best efforts to keep moving, the cold was seeping into her bones.

"Why did I have to argue with him? Why did I leave the stupid manor in the first place?" she grumbled, the frustration of the evening catching up with her. She was completely drenched, her hood offering no real protection, and the wet fabric of her hoodie clung uncomfortably to her body.

Each gust of wind felt like it was cutting straight through her. She glanced around, but there were no cabs or places to duck into to escape the rain. She was stuck out here, drenched and freezing, and still had a long walk ahead of her.

As she trudged forward, her mind kept drifting back to the manor and Fuyuhiko. Despite how furious she had been with him earlier, part of her now wished she had just stayed. At least there, she'd be warm, and she wouldn't be out in this miserable weather. But, stubborn as she was, she pushed forward, trying to ignore the creeping cold that was making her limbs feel stiff and heavy.

By the time she finally reached the gates of the Kuzuryu manor, Hannah was completely soaked, shivering uncontrollably, and utterly exhausted. She stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath as she wiped her wet hair out of her face, but the cold refused to relent.

As much as she hated it, all she could think about now was getting inside and out of the cold. She just hoped Fuyuhiko wasn't waiting to give her another lecture the moment she stepped through the door. She had no energy left for another fight tonight.