He takes a good, long drag and holds in the smoke, letting the taste flood his mouth as her voice (accompanied by Nobu's guitar) surrounds him.

It is late at night, and he is alone. In an office as small as his, it is enough.

He feels his pulse quicken, his fingers twitch, and his heart...

His heart swallowed the bitter taste pride had left him with.

He had wanted her to choose him. Over Ren. Over her ambition. Over her pride.

He wanted some sign that maybe, just maybe, she had moved on...so that they can move on.

So that the two of them could begin.

For all that they think he is so mature, so understanding, so grown-up...in this moment, he had realized that he was still acting childish.

In reality, it didn't matter how it was. How she felt. Who and what she chose.

He doesn't even sleep.

He goes home to pack a suitcase and takes care to tie up all loose ends, and takes his leave of his parents.

He steps into the train that had once separated them.

Now, it would bring him to her.

Because HE chose her.