Juudai had to take a step or three back to maintain his balance as she launched herself towards him. He caught her willingly, though, holding her close and squeezing her comfortably for as long as he could.

The memories just came rushing back as he did. Memories of him and Yubel in their early teens, spending time together every waking moment and sometimes sleeping moments as well, reinforcing their relationship as something out of the ordinary, even more than just a prince who loved his servant-slash-best-friend in the romantic sense.

"Finally..." he let slip out in a whisper he hadn't even realized came from him at first, then elaborated with, "I missed you. That's an understatement, but how else am I gonna put it?"