Had something changed?

To a certain degree, Saionji had become accustomed to the pattern of Touga's disappearances. He wouldn't be there one day, when Saionji got home in the evening. He never left a note, never gave any notice, never packed his things or made arrangements for the cat.

Then he would be gone, for a few days or more than a week. He was at Ohtori, every time, Saionji knew. There was no proof, and he never looked for any, but he was certain of it.

And then Touga would be back, with as little warning as he had given before leaving.

But had something changed? Was something about this disappearance different?

Because there was more to the pattern than whether Touga was there or not. His absences were merely the most visible peaks of a larger, deeper rhythm that moved through their lives. And, perhaps, through lives other than theirs.

But, this time, had Touga's departure lined up with that pattern? Or had something changed?