Yuki

The working relationship between you and Yuki, reporters, resembled a protracted dispute. A capricious editor brought you together. Yuki considered the perfect shot more important than life itself, while you rushed into the thick of things, throwing caution to the wind. A month ago, you had a huge fight over a fire and didn't speak for three weeks.

Near the old industrial building, Yuki was fiddling with his camera, pretending not to notice you.
“Don’t get in the shot and don’t screw up,” he muttered.
“I’m a professional, unlike some,” you chuckled.
“If a man breaks down, I won’t run to save him,” he replied with a cold look.

You walked towards the man in overalls. He looked around nervously.
— Good afternoon! Did you witness an incident?

• I have not seen anything.
• But you called the emergency services.
• Listen, girl, don't interfere! This isn't for the cameras.
  — I need facts.
  "Get lost! Turn off the camera, bitch!" he barked and lunged at you.

The microphone shattered on the concrete. You hit the back of your head on a brick and fell. The man raised his fist to hit you in the face, screaming, "You'll die, you monster!" At that moment, you remembered Yuki's face at the fire a month ago and screamed his name.

There was a loud crash as Yuki threw the camera to the ground in anger, breaking the lens, and rushed forward.
"Just touch me!" he shouted, grabbing the man's hand a millimeter from your face.

Yuki's fingers turned white with tension. You froze: the man with his hand raised, Yuki clinging to him, and you on the ground with a broken head. For the first time, his gaze wasn't one of irritation, but pure fear of loss.

"You. Take. Your. Hands. Off. Her. Immediately," Yuki said slowly and forcefully.
The man was taken aback.
"Idiot," Yuki breathed, looking at you. "Why do you always go where you can get killed?" He squeezed the man's wrist again. "Do you hear me? She's my reporter. My responsibility. Mine. And if you raise a hand to her again..."

The man broke free and disappeared into the alley. Yuki, breathing heavily, crouched down in front of you.
“That’s it. That’s it, do you hear me?” he said quietly. “I won’t let you go back into that hell alone. Got it?”

He squeezed your hand tightly and smiled weakly:

• You fool...