"I heard your voice, so I came... Aoba-san". His words resonated through Aoba's mind. There he was, just sitting there with his umbrella as though the time was nothing. Torn between shock and joy, Aoba called out. "Clear!" With that, he stood up and made his way across the rooftops to where Aoba stood in the veranda. Without a word, Aoba wrapped his arms around him as tight as he could, barely believing the moment was real. Returning the embrace, Clear held onto Aoba, running his hands through Aoba's hair causing him to tremble ever so slightly. "Y-you... You came back..." Aoba whimpered from somewhere between laughter and tears. "Yes, Aoba-san". Immediately the tears overtook Aoba and he began quaking in the arms of the man he watched fall apart at the seams. Holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping him alive, he whispered to Clear "I... Clear, I..." he trailed off. "Aoba-san..." Clear began, "Aoba-san, I'm here". Aoba continued to cry. Hearing Clear's voice again after all this time, saying his name; Aoba could scarcely accept it. He never thought he'd even see Clear again, but there he was, in his arms once more, like nothing ever happened. Motioning his head, Aoba spoke; "Clear?", "Yes, Aoba-san?" he replied, "I missed you". Clear smiled into Aoba's hair. "I said I'd never leave you, Aoba-san... And I never did". With those words, Aoba looked up at Clear and brought their lips together. Holding both sides of Clear's head, he buried himself in Clear, savouring every second they kissed. Clear ran his hand down Aoba's back and pushed them closer together. Aoba still remembered the events in Platinum Jail and how Clear loved him. Clear wanted so much to be with Aoba - to be human - so he granted that desire the best way that he could. It still affected Aoba; even thinking about it brought him to the edge. But in this one moment, everything was right with the world.
Whoever repaired him Aoba owed an impossible debt. Tears continued to trickle down Aoba's face as the two embraced. "Aoba-san?" Clear began. "Yeah?", "I love you". Aoba unlocked them and looked at Clear again. Smiling, and with all the conviction and sincerity of innocence, Aoba spoke; "I love you too, Clear. I love you too". And with that, Aoba pulled Clear away from the veranda and into the bedroom. He kissed Clear again; deeply and without restraint. Moving backwards and still holding onto Clear, Aoba directed them to the bed. Feeling the edge of the bed with the back of his leg, he caused himself and Clear to fall and land gracelessly on the sheets. Still locked in a kiss, Aoba positioned himself directly under Clear and began gyrating in repetitive motions. This time there was no restriction; after watching Clear die, Aoba was going to do anything and everything to carve them into eternity.
Words dissolved into heavy gasps and weighted sighs as the two writhed in earnest. Aoba began to harden in response to Clear who was now working the hem of his neck with voracious intent. Descending further into ecstasy, Aoba brought his hands to Clear's head and proceeded to labour his fingers through the copious silver strands of hair. Clear then spoke. "Aoba-san... Can I ask you something?". "Always", Aoba said through rushed breaths. Clear opened his mouth to speak but hesitation seemed to get the better of him and he withdrew from caressing Aoba. Confused, Aoba pulled himself up and saw Clear sitting on the edge of the bed with a troubled look upon his face. "Clear...?" Aoba began, "What's wrong?" Clear didn't move. Aoba moved closer to him, positioning himself next to Clear and put his arms around Clear's waist. Clear then put his arms across Aoba's in response. "Aoba-san..." Clear began, "You know I'm not human..." "Yes", Aoba replied with curiosity. "Then you know that I'll never grow old – I'll never age". Aoba grew concerned; he knew where this was going. Clear, still motionless, spoke again "But you will... And I'll just watch as you die. I don't want that". There was a fear and loneliness is his voice that echoed throughout the room. Aoba had considered this. In the year or so that Clear had been gone Aoba had the time to think about everything and how he knew that Clear would outlive him. But he had also had the time to realise something else. "Clear," Aoba addressed him with a calm firmness, "I know what you're thinking and I understand. I've had a lot of time to think about it too and..." Aoba trailed off, absorbed in his own thoughts. Fading back in, he looked at Clear who still hadn't moved and with rehearsed precision placed his thumb and index finger either side of Clear's chin, rotated his head towards him and kissed him gently. "I know you won't grow old and I know that one day I will die. But as long as I'm with you then that doesn't matter to me. And as long as you remember me, I will live forever". There was a resolution in Aoba's eyes that Clear understood. It didn't matter what time they had together, it was only important that they had the time. In a world that was cruel and pitiless, the quietest whispers drowned out the explosions. He and Aoba were together, here and now, in this one shard of infinity, and it was that which made everything worthwhile. The two continued to look at each other daring to even breathe for fear of shattering this single piece of serenity.
How much time had passed between them they didn't know, but it was a while before either of them spoke again. Clear was the one to break the silence, however. "Aoba-san... Master..." he murmured delicately, "I want to be with you. Forever". Aoba smiled. "Forever is a very long time, you know" he replied. "I know", Clear returned with a wilted smile, "But I still want to be with you. And I will love you even longer". It was that which truly affirmed Clear's humanity. Not just to Aoba, but to anyone who would have been there at that moment. If the only thing that made Clear in any way mechanical was his functional immortality then Aoba could live with that, because he couldn't bear to see him die again.