Their eyes met across the room.

The coffee carrier tilted dangerously. She didn't seem to notice.

For a long, stretching moment, neither of them moved. The café hummed around them—orders being called out, chairs scraping, a blender whirring—but it all faded into static.

"

He opened his mouth. Closed it. Tried again.

"

...Y/n?"

Her name came out rougher than he intended. Hoarse. Like he'd swallowed glass.

"

One word. Breathless. Like she'd been holding it in for years.

A tiny blur of motion darted past him.

"

Mommy! Mommy, look! I got the strawberry one! The one with the sprinkles!"

A toddler—barely taller than the table legs—launched herself at Y/n's legs, clutching a paper-wrapped pastry in both hands. She beamed up at her mother with dark eyes and an easy, gap-toothed grin.

Suguru's gaze flickered down for exactly one second. Cute kid. Must be hers. Must belong to whoever she'd settled down with after disappearing.

The thought settled like a stone in his stomach.

He forced a dry chuckle.

"

Y/n's hand moved automatically, fingers brushing through the toddler's dark hair. Her smile was thin. Fragile.

"

She'd imagined this moment a thousand times. None of those versions had prepared her for looking the father of her child in the eyes—while he smiled politely at the little girl standing right beside him.

The toddler tugged at her sleeve.

"

Mommy, can I have my chocolate milk now? You promised."