In the everning,the quiet hum of Snack J was a stark contrast to the adrenaline of the earlier mission. Ken and Jun sat at the counter, lost in their own thoughts, the weight of the bomb disarmament still fresh in their minds.

She poured him a drink, setting it in front of him with practiced ease. They both knew this conversation had been coming, and there was no avoiding it now. The air between them felt different tonight—not as thick with unspoken words, but with the shared knowledge that something had shifted.

Jun leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she studied him. "You've been thinking about Nambu's offer."

Ken didn't answer right away, instead reaching for the glass and staring into the liquid as if it held the answers he sought. After a beat, he nodded. "Yeah. I have."

They lapsed into silence, the kind that felt more like a weight than a comfort. Ken wasn't usually one to hesitate, but here, in the quiet of the bar, with only Jun for company, he seemed unsure of how to approach the conversation.

Finally, Jun broke the silence. "What do you think? About… everything?" Her tone was soft, inviting him to share his thoughts, though she knew Ken would struggle to put them into words.

Ken sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated," he admitted. "I've spent so long pushing my feelings aside… for the sake of the team. For the mission." He set the glass down, meeting her gaze fully. "But now that Nambu's given us this option, I'm not sure how to deal with it. The idea of you leaving the team—Jun, I don't think I could handle that."

His words hung in the air, uncharacteristically vulnerable. Jun's heart squeezed painfully at the admission. She'd always known Ken felt something for her, just as she did for him, but hearing it spoken aloud felt different. It felt real.

"I don't want to leave, Ken," she said quietly. "I love this team. I love what we do. But… I've thought about it too. About what it would mean for us if I did leave. We'd finally have the chance to…"

"To be together," Ken finished for her, his voice tinged with something unreadable.

She nodded. "Yeah. We wouldn't have to hide anything, or pretend. But…" Jun hesitated, searching for the right words. "But would it be worth it? Would it be worth leaving everything behind for something we've never even had a chance to try?"

Ken's jaw tightened, the conflict clear on his face. "I don't know," he admitted, the words heavy with frustration. "I want both. I want you to stay on the team, and I want us to have a chance. But I know that's selfish. I can't ask you to give up everything for me. And I can't give up the team either. It's who we are."

Jun swallowed, her chest tight. She had known Ken would say that. Deep down, she had expected it. But still, hearing him admit it, knowing that they were trapped in this cycle of wanting but never acting—it hurt more than she was willing to let on.

"You're not the only one being selfish," Jun said after a long pause. "I've stayed, knowing that being on the team would keep us in this limbo. I could have walked away before, but I didn't. Because being near you, even if we couldn't have more… that's always been enough for me." She gave a small, bittersweet smile. "Maybe we're both too afraid to really make a choice."

Ken was silent, his gaze locked on hers. His heart ached with the weight of her words, but he knew she was right. They were both selfish, in their own ways. They both wanted to hold onto what they had, even if it meant never fully embracing the future they could have.

Jun sipped her drink, glancing over at Ken. "You know," she began, her voice soft, "when you said that back there… 'we die together,' it made me realize something."

Ken turned to her, his expression guarded, but his eyes gave away his curiosity.

"I don't think I could ever truly leave," Jun admitted, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "Not because I don't want a life outside of this, but because I don't want a life without you."

Ken felt his throat tighten. He had always known, deep down, that they were bound by more than just the mission. But hearing her say it out loud—that was different. It made everything feel more real, more urgent.

He looked away, staring down into his own drink. "Jun… I don't know if I'm strong enough to let you go."

She reached over, placing her hand on his, their fingers intertwining in a way that felt both natural and yet fragile. "You don't have to be. Because I'm not going anywhere."

Ken looked up at her, his heart pounding. He knew now, more than ever, that their lives were intertwined in ways even he couldn't untangle. And maybe, that was okay.

They both knew it wasn't a perfect solution. It wasn't the fairytale ending people often hoped for. But it was the truth. They were bound by their duty, by their love for the team, and by their quiet, unspoken bond. Neither of them wanted to give that up.

Ken nodded, his tension easing slightly. "Thank you, Jun. For staying. For understanding."

She smiled softly. "Always."