It was a quiet morning in Yuzuru and Shiori's house. The soft glow of sunlight streamed through the windows, warming the room despite the lingering tension from the previous night. Yuzuru stood hesitantly in front of Shiori's bedroom door, his hand hovering just inches away from the wooden surface. Taking a deep breath, he finally knocked gently.
"Shiori, can we talk for a moment?" Yuzuru's voice was calm, laced with regret. "I want to apologize for last night..."
The door creaked open slightly, revealing Shiori on the other side. Her expression was cold, her brows furrowed in slight annoyance, though her curiosity was evident.
"What do you want to say?" Shiori's tone was clipped. "I'm getting ready to leave."
Yuzuru's shoulders dropped slightly, but his voice remained soft. "I shouldn't have raised my voice at you the other night, especially at Kenta's house. I just... I don't want us to keep fighting like this."
Before he could finish, Shiori closed the door abruptly, not realizing that Yuzuru's fingers were still resting on the doorframe. The edge of the door caught his hand, eliciting a sharp hiss of pain.
"Ow..." Yuzuru winced, pulling his hand back reflexively.
Shiori froze, her eyes widening in shock as she quickly reopened the door. Her face softened with guilt. "Come in... Let me see your hand," she said tersely, pulling him inside before he could protest.
Grabbing his injured hand, Shiori guided him to sit on the edge of the bed. Without a word, she fetched the first aid kit from the desk nearby and began tending to his finger. Despite the faint sting of antiseptic, Yuzuru stayed quiet, watching her with a small smile as she worked with an unexpected gentleness.
"You don't have to do this, you know," Yuzuru said softly, his tone almost teasing. "But... thank you for caring."
Shiori's hands paused for a fraction of a second before continuing. "I just don't want to feel guilty," she replied flatly, though her focus on his hand betrayed her concern.
She carefully dabbed ointment on the small cut, her movements precise but slightly rushed. Yuzuru took the opportunity to study her face-her brows knit together in concentration, the faintest hint of regret in her expression. He smiled faintly, sensing an opening in the wall she had built between them.
"Shiori," he said gently, his voice lowering, "can we let this go? I don't want us to keep drifting further apart. I just need you to know... no matter what you think of me, I'll always care about you."
Shiori stilled for a moment, her hand hovering just above his. Her eyes flicked up to meet his briefly before returning to the task at hand. She said nothing, simply finishing her work and setting the first aid kit aside.
Once done, she released his hand and stepped back, her gaze averted. Yuzuru lingered, standing slowly as he spoke again, his tone calm but earnest.
"I'll wait for your decision, Shiori. If you're ready, I'll be here to fix this. To fix us." He gave her a small, hopeful smile before turning to leave the room.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Shiori stood frozen, staring at her hands. The memory of his words lingered in her mind, echoing louder than she wanted to admit. Her face remained impassive, but her heart wavered, caught in the tension between her pride and the faint spark of something she couldn't yet name.
For the first time that morning, the quiet of the house felt heavier, filled with unsaid words and uncertain possibilities.
---
The hospital examination room was quiet, but the atmosphere felt tense. Shiori sat on the edge of the chair, her fingers clutching the hem of her jacket as she waited for the doctor to arrive with the results. Her heart raced with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
The door creaked open, and the doctor entered with a soft smile, a file of test results in hand. Shiori let out a small breath of relief, though her expression remained guarded.
"Good morning, Mrs. Shiori," the doctor greeted warmly as she took a seat across from her. "I've reviewed all the follow-up tests, and I'm happy to report that you're in excellent health. There's nothing to worry about. In fact, if you're considering starting a family, there's absolutely nothing preventing you from doing so."
Shiori's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected mention of children, but she quickly masked her surprise. "Oh... Thank you, doctor," she replied, her tone composed though her mind swirled with questions.
The doctor's smile grew gentler as she glanced around the room, her gaze lingering near the door. "Is your husband not with you today?"
Shiori stiffened, caught off guard. For a moment, she hesitated, searching for the right words. "Er... no, he's busy with work," she finally said, her voice steady but uncertain.
The doctor nodded understandingly, folding her hands on the desk. "I see. Well, you're very lucky, Shiori. From the previous consultations, I could tell that your husband is incredibly patient and understanding. Especially considering..." She paused for a moment, her smile turning slightly sympathetic. "...your current situation as a virgin."
Shiori's breath hitched, her body tensing as she processed the doctor's words. A flush of awkwardness crept up her neck, but she quickly suppressed it, maintaining a polite nod.
"I... appreciate your kind words," Shiori murmured, her gaze shifting to the side as she tried to hide her discomfort.
The doctor continued, her tone gentle and encouraging. "I'm sure the two of you will have a happy married life. If you have any further concerns or questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We're always here to help."
Shiori offered a small, strained smile and bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, doctor. I'll keep that in mind."
As she left the examination room, Shiori's footsteps slowed in the quiet hospital corridor. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, the doctor's words playing on repeat in her mind. "Your husband is incredibly patient... your situation as a virgin..."
The air felt heavy as she leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the floor. Her marriage to Yuzuru was far from what the doctor had assumed-an arrangement built on a contract, not love. The weight of the secret they shared pressed against her chest, and she exhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
For a brief moment, she allowed her thoughts to wander. Could such a façade ever truly become something real? Could she and Yuzuru ever build the kind of life the doctor had envisioned? The questions lingered, unanswered, as Shiori straightened herself and walked toward the exit. The sunlit corridor stretched ahead, but for Shiori, the path forward felt uncertain and shadowed by doubt.
Meanwhile, that same morning, Yuzuru's office was quiet—the kind of stillness that usually allowed him to focus. Yet his pen rested idly in his hand as his mind wandered far from the documents on his desk. His thoughts drifted to a moment he had been replaying in his head—an encounter from a few weeks ago at the hospital, when he had accompanied Shiori for her follow-up examination.
[Flashback]
The hospital corridor was bustling with activity, but Yuzuru stood alone outside the examination room, leaning slightly against the wall with his arms crossed. His expression was calm, though his mind swirled with the usual complexities of his situation with Shiori.
The door to the examination room opened, and the doctor stepped out. She caught sight of Yuzuru and walked toward him with a gentle smile.
"Mr. Yuzuru," she greeted, her tone warm but curious. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but I've been a bit... puzzled. Why haven't you, well... been intimate with Shiori yet? You're her husband, after all."
The question caught Yuzuru off guard, though he didn't let it show. He looked down briefly, collecting his thoughts before meeting the doctor's gaze with a composed smile.
"I just think it's better to give Shiori her space," he replied calmly. "I don't think it's something that matters right now. I'd rather let us build our relationship slowly, in our own time."
The doctor studied him for a moment, her smile growing softer. "You're a good man, Mr. Yuzuru. Most husbands wouldn't approach things with such patience and understanding. It's admirable."
Yuzuru returned the smile, but there was a flicker of something unspoken in his eyes-a mixture of gratitude and unease. He appreciated the doctor's words, but they also weighed heavily on him. Could his approach truly be the best one, given the precarious nature of their contractual marriage?
[Present Day]
Back in his office, Yuzuru exhaled deeply, the memory lingering as he stared out the window. The doctor's words had been kind, even flattering, but they also underscored the delicate balance he was trying to maintain.
He leaned back in his chair, setting the pen down on the desk. His patience had always been a defining part of his character, but with Shiori, it felt like he was walking a tightrope, unsure whether his restraint was helping or hindering their fragile relationship.
Despite his doubts, Yuzuru knew one thing for certain: if there was any hope of turning their arrangement into something meaningful, he had to keep giving Shiori the time and space she needed. But the question lingered-how long could he keep waiting?