Yuzuru had just returned home, the night silent around him. The front door was open, and he stepped inside with light footsteps. However, as he entered the living room, he froze in surprise. Shiori was sitting on the sofa, holding Sora, the teddy bear Yuzuru had given her, close to her chest. Shiori appeared calm, but there was something different in her expression-a kind of tranquility that felt unusual.
"Why are you still here, Shiori? Why are you waiting for me?" Yuzuru asked, his voice laced with surprise.
Shiori looked up at him, a faint smile on her lips, her gaze soft and unhurried.
"Sora wanted to hug her father before bed," Shiori replied, her voice gentle. "She said so."
Yuzuru frowned slightly, a bit confused, but there was a hint of a smile on his face at Shiori's words. He walked closer, his gaze falling on the large teddy bear in her arms.
"Sora is clever, isn't she?" he said, his tone light. "But why are you the one hugging it?"
Shiori's smile deepened, her eyes softening. "I think... it's sweeter this way."
The room fell into a quiet stillness, the only sound the ticking of the wall clock. Yuzuru suddenly felt a strong impulse within him, an urge to do something he hadn't planned.
"Shiori..." he began quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "If Sora wants her father to hug her mother... may I hug you?"
Shiori's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the unexpected request, her heart catching in her chest. For a moment, she said nothing, simply gazing at him. But after a few seconds, she didn't pull away. Instead, she gently hugged Sora, making just enough space for Yuzuru to come closer.
Yuzuru stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Shiori, his heart filled with an emotion he couldn't quite name. The moment felt strange-like they were in different worlds yet bound together by an unspoken connection that seemed to grow stronger with each passing second.
"I don't know why I'm doing this..." Yuzuru whispered softly, his voice low and full of uncertainty. "But I feel... like this is what we need."
Shiori didn't reply, her body still as she absorbed the warmth of the hug. There was a strange sense of peace flowing between them, and despite the complications that lingered in the air, the embrace felt almost timeless, as if it transcended the turmoil of their past.
For a moment, the world outside their small bubble of quiet faded away, and all that remained was the simple yet profound connection between them. The hug, though brief, was deeper than words could express-an unspoken acknowledgment of the complexity and depth of their bond.
--
The night was quiet in their house. Shiori stood in front of Yuzuru's bedroom door, hesitating, unsure of what to say. She paused for a moment before raising her hand to knock. Inside the room, Yuzuru sat at the edge of his bed, staring out the window, lost in thought. His heart was heavy with doubt and regret.
"Yuzuru... I came to talk," Shiori called out softly, letting out a sigh.
She lowered her head briefly, feeling awkward in the silence between them. She wanted to fix the growing distance between them, to say something that would make things right. After a moment of stillness, she knocked gently on the door.
"I... I know I haven't been easy to get close to. She began, her voice barely a whisper against the wood. "I'm sorry for always being distant, for pushing you away. I'm also... sorry for not understanding you better."
Yuzuru, still sitting on the edge of the bed, heard every word Shiori said. His heart raced, a mix of emotions swirling within him. Slowly, he stood up and walked toward the door. But before Shiori could step into the room, Yuzuru moved quickly and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"I… I'm sorry too, Shiori."
His voice was heavy, weighed down by regret. "I'm sorry for hurting you… for raising my voice at you. I shouldn't have done that."
Shiori was taken by surprise at Yuzuru's sudden embrace. Her body stiffened for a moment, but in just a few seconds, she felt an overwhelming sense of safety in his arms. Yuzuru held her tightly, as if he never wanted to let go.
"I don't want us to part on bad terms…"
His voice trembled as he spoke, still holding her close. "I just want us to be on good terms before everything ends—before we truly say goodbye."
Still in his arms, Shiori took a deep breath, her body slowly relaxing. She didn't know why, but Yuzuru's words felt so sincere, and her heart skipped a beat. Without saying anything, Shiori leaned back into Yuzuru, finding peace in his embrace.
"I… I hope so too."
She whispered softly, her voice barely above a breath. "We may not be able to change the past, but I want us to create one last beautiful memory."
The two of them fell silent, trapped in a moment full of emotion. There were no more words to say, only feelings that intertwined, understanding each other without needing to explain.
---
A flashback to the past: Yuzuru and Akarin sat in a quiet park. The sunset painted the sky in golden hues, casting a soft light over both of them. They sat side by side on a bench, the atmosphere thick with unspoken sadness. Akarin held Yuzuru's hand, but her eyes were clouded, filled with confusion and suppressed emotions.
"Akarin… please, don't leave me."
His voice broke, desperation seeping into every word. "I can't live without you. We've been through so much together—we… we understand each other. We love each other."
He swallowed hard. "Why now, after everything… do you have to go?"
Akarin slowly pulled her hand away, her once calm eyes now filled with deep sorrow. She looked at Yuzuru with a vacant expression, but her heart raced.
"I… I don't want this, Yuzuru."
She spoke softly, her eyes avoiding his. "I love you too, but my family has already made a decision. They've arranged for me to marry someone else."
Her fingers curled slightly at her side. "I can't go against their wishes. This isn't a decision I've made lightly."
Yuzuru stood up, his face a mixture of pain and resolve. He took a few steps away from Akarin, then turned back, his eyes shimmering with tears that threatened to fall.
"So it's that easy for you to leave me?"
His voice broke, the hurt slipping through despite his effort to hold it in. "Just like that… you follow your family's decision without thinking about our feelings?"
Akarin stood up, her steps hesitant. She struggled to hold back the tears, but her face was fragile, on the verge of breaking.
"I don't want to lose you, Yuzuru."
Her voice came out hoarse as she fought back tears. "But I have no choice. I'm bound to my family."
She paused, breath trembling. "I… I hope you understand. This isn't what I want—but I have to do it."
Yuzuru walked toward Akarin slowly, his gaze sharp, filled with determination, but also with deep pain.
"If you go, Akarin…"
His words were firm, yet every syllable carried quiet torment. "I'll never forget you. But I won't stop loving you either."
He drew a slow, unsteady breath. "I'll keep hoping—even though I know I'll never have a chance again."
Akarin closed her eyes briefly, trying to hold her emotions in check. She knew this decision was what was best for her family, but her heart felt shattered. Without saying another word, Akarin took a heavy step forward, leaving Yuzuru standing motionless in the same spot.
The flashback ended with Yuzuru standing still in the park, the wind blowing softly, carrying with it a whisper of deep sorrow.