The tension in the guest room was palpable, the faint glow of moonlight spilling through the window casting elongated shadows across the walls. Yuzuru stepped inside, his movements hesitant but purposeful, intent on keeping up appearances as he always did. But the sight of Shiori sitting on the bed with an icy expression stopped him in his tracks.
"Shiori," Yuzuru began, his voice carrying a mixture of concern and frustration as he walked closer to the bed. "What are you doing? Why won't you sleep here? We're husband and wife-don't you care what people will think? This is Kenta's house. We can't act like this."
Shiori's eyes flicked up to meet his, cold and unwavering. She leaned away slightly, maintaining a deliberate distance between them. "I don't want to sleep with you," she said flatly, her tone sharp and unyielding. "Enough. Don't force me."
Yuzuru's jaw tightened, the weight of her rejection pressing down on him. His voice rose slightly as the emotions he had suppressed for so long bubbled to the surface. "What are you thinking, Shiori? This isn't about us, don't you get that? We're in front of our families. Do you even care what they'll say? What they'll think about us?"
Shiori didn't flinch. Instead, she dropped her gaze, her shoulders stiffening as though bracing herself for the confrontation. "Do you think I care about them?" she muttered, her voice low and detached.
Her indifference lit a fire in Yuzuru, his restraint slipping as he took a step closer. "Why do you hate me so much?" he demanded, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and exhaustion. "I'm just trying to protect our secret. You know what's at stake, Shiori. We both know this marriage is nothing more than a contract. So why are you making this harder than it needs to be?"
Shiori stayed silent, but the subtle trembling of her hands betrayed her. Her eyes, though averted, glistened with unshed tears. Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, she admitted, "I never asked for any of this, Yuzuru."
Her words hit him like a slap, yet his frustration only grew. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "You didn't ask for this, I know," he said, his tone edged with bitterness. "But neither did I. We're both stuck in this, Shiori. Just ten more months. Ten months, and this contract will end. Isn't that what you've been waiting for? To finally be free of me?"
Shiori's silence was deafening, her eyes shimmering with unspoken hurt. She didn't respond, but her expression-one of pain masked by a thin veneer of indifference-spoke volumes. Yuzuru's shoulders sagged as he stared at her, his anger giving way to a deep, weary sadness.
Without another word, he turned and walked to the door. Pausing for a moment, he glanced back, his eyes searching hers for something-an apology, an explanation, anything. But there was nothing. Only the growing chasm between them.
He left the room, closing the door softly behind him, leaving Shiori alone in the dim light. She sat motionless on the bed, the tears she had fought so hard to hold back finally spilling over, silent and unchecked. The moonlight fell gently across her face, illuminating the quiet storm of emotions she could no longer suppress.
---
Yuzuru sat on the sofa, his expression distant and lost in thought. The soft glow of the living room lights created a calm yet tense atmosphere, the kind that amplified the silence around him. The faint sound of approaching footsteps broke his reverie, and Miyu, Kaito, and Akarin appeared at the doorway.
Miyu smiled gently as she leaned against the doorframe, her eyes warm and curious. "Why are you still awake, Yuzuru? Haven't you gone to bed yet?"
Startled, Yuzuru looked up, his tired eyes meeting hers. He hesitated for a moment before responding in a quiet, measured tone. "Ah... I just thought I'd let Shiori rest for the night. She seemed pretty exhausted, so I figured it's better if she sleeps alone. I'll just... stay here in the living room."
Kaito stepped forward with his usual cheerful demeanor, his grin wide and infectious. "If that's the case, Uncle Yuzuru, why don't you sleep in my room with Auntie Akarin tonight? I want everyone to sleep together!"
Akarin blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Kaito's suggestion. She let out a small laugh, more at Kaito's enthusiasm than the actual idea. "Kaito, isn't that... a little unusual?"
Yuzuru froze for a second, his gaze shifting between Kaito and Akarin. A faint, uneasy smile tugged at his lips. "Sleeping with Kaito? Hmm... that feels... a bit odd, doesn't it?"
Kaito, undeterred, strode closer, his excitement palpable as he grabbed both Yuzuru's and Akarin's hands. "Come on, let's do it! I've been waiting for this. We can all sleep together and chat until we fall asleep. It'll be fun, right?"
Akarin shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. Despite herself, she couldn't help but smile at Kaito's unrelenting enthusiasm. "Well, as long as Uncle Yuzuru doesn't mind, I'm in."
Yuzuru looked down for a moment, caught between laughter and discomfort. The situation was absurd, but in a way, Kaito's energy felt like a breath of fresh air, pulling him out of the weight of his thoughts. He sighed softly, a faint, relieved smile crossing his face. "Alright, if that's what you want... I'll join."
Kaito's face lit up as he tightened his grip on their hands, practically dragging them toward his room. His childlike excitement seemed to brighten the otherwise heavy night, and for a moment, Yuzuru felt his burdens ease just a little.
As they entered Kaito's room, the playful atmosphere lingered, filling the space with a sense of warmth and camaraderie that made the night feel less lonely.
---
Flashback four years ago, In the cozy café hummed softly with the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the gentle strum of background music. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a golden glow across the polished wooden floors and tables. Akarin stepped inside with a hopeful stride, her eyes scanning the room before making her way toward the dessert counter.
She paused in front of the display case, her gaze immediately drawn to a slice of chocolate cake that seemed almost too perfect. Rich layers of chocolate glistened under the lights, and she leaned closer to inspect it, her heart set.
"Ah, that chocolate cake..." Akarin murmured softly, almost to herself. Her hand hovered near her wallet as she glanced at the price, anticipation lighting up her face.
Just as she took a step forward, a young man appeared beside her. His elegant demeanor was impossible to ignore, and he moved with an ease that suggested confidence. Before she could react, he gestured toward the same slice of cake.
"I'll take this one," he said calmly, his voice smooth as he signaled to the staff.
Akarin froze, her eyes darting toward the cake now securely in the man's possession. Disappointment flickered across her face, though she tried to mask it.
"Oh..." she said, her tone subdued. "I was... actually going to get that. But it seems I was too late."
The man-Yuzuru-turned to her, his expression unreadable at first. He studied her for a moment, taking in her surprise and mild disappointment. Then, a faint smile curved his lips as he glanced at the cake in his hand.
"Well," he began, tilting his head slightly, "it looks like I got here just in time."
Akarin bit her lip, unsure how to respond. She didn't want to make a fuss, but she couldn't hide the wistful glance she gave the cake.
Yuzuru hesitated, his gaze shifting between Akarin and the dessert. Something about her made him pause, and before he knew it, he had made up his mind.
With a small, decisive nod, he extended the cake toward her. "Here. I'll pay for it, and it's yours."
Akarin's eyes widened, and she instinctively raised her hands in protest. "Oh, no, I can't accept that. You were here first. It's fine, really."
But Yuzuru was already stepping toward the cashier. He placed the cake on the counter and paid for it with a calm efficiency, ignoring her attempts to stop him. When he returned, he held the cake out to her, his expression as composed as ever.
"Take it," he said simply. "Consider it your good luck for today."
Akarin stared at the cake, then at him, her confusion mingling with a growing sense of gratitude. "I... I don't know how to thank you," she said softly, her voice almost trembling.
"You don't have to," Yuzuru replied with a faint smile. "Sometimes, it's nice to make someone else's day a little better."
She hesitated for a moment longer before finally accepting the cake. "Thank you," she said again, her words heartfelt this time. "Really. This means a lot."
Yuzuru shrugged lightly, as though it was no big deal, but the small smile lingered on his face. He watched as she turned and walked to a nearby table, still holding the cake carefully in her hands.
For a brief moment, he stood there, his thoughts lingering on the exchange. Something about the encounter felt significant in a way he couldn't quite explain, as though he had just stepped into a moment that would ripple far beyond the warm walls of the café.
And as Akarin sat down, taking her first bite of the chocolate cake, she couldn't help but glance back at him, a fleeting thought crossing her mind: Who is this man, and why does it feel like is there something with it?