The quiet café was nearly empty, save for Akarin and Ren seated across from each other at a small table. The air between them was heavy with tension, the silence thick and unyielding.
Akarin's face was drawn with irritation as she broke the quiet. "Why do you keep pushing, Ren? We both know... our relationship was only because of our families. There were no real feelings between us."
Ren's tone remained calm, though his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Akarin. "That may be true for you, but not for me. My feelings for you were genuine, Akarin."
Akarin's expression shifted to one of surprise before skepticism hardened her features.
"Genuine?" she echoed, a trace of disbelief lacing her words. "Ren, we barely even got to know each other. It was all arranged, and I've never felt any real connection between us."
Ren's hands tightened around his coffee cup as he held back his emotions. He exhaled deeply, his composure teetering, before finally meeting her gaze with resolute seriousness.
"Do you know," he began, his voice low but firm, "that I've always remembered your past with Yuzuru?"
Akarin froze, her composure faltering as her eyes widened. The mention of Yuzuru's name stirred a mix of confusion and unease within her.
"You... still remember?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible.
Ren nodded slowly, his gaze never wavering.
"I remember everything, Akarin. But even knowing that, I chose to pursue you. Because I believed that, someday, you would see the sincerity in my feelings."
Akarin sat in stunned silence, her heart racing with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The pain of her past and the weight of Ren's words collided within her, leaving her uncertain and unsteady. There was a part of her that felt wounded, but another part-buried deep-was unexpectedly moved by the raw honesty she hadn't noticed in him before.
---
At Kenta's house, Yuzuru sat cross-legged on the floor, playing with little Kaito, whose laughter echoed through the living room. The two of them were clearly enjoying each other's company, their playful exchanges filled with joy and warmth.
Shiori stood a short distance away, her lips curled into a soft smile as she watched them. Her eyes glimmered with a quiet happiness, touched by the rare glimpse of Yuzuru's nurturing side.
Before long, Miyu and Kenta approached her from behind, noticing how engrossed she was in the scene before her.
Miyu, with a teasing grin, nudged Shiori lightly. "Wow, Shiori, you seem to be enjoying the view. Maybe Yuzuru would make a great dad, don't you think?"
Kenta joined in with a playful smirk. "Looks like Shiori's already imagining her own little family. Right, Shiori?"
Shiori laughed softly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. She glanced away, trying to mask her embarrassment.
"Ah, you two... Stop it. I'm just happy seeing them so cheerful together," she said, her voice tinged with bashful amusement.
Despite her words, her gaze instinctively drifted back to Yuzuru. This time, there was a newfound warmth in her heart as she watched him laugh alongside Kaito. It was a side of him she hadn't seen often, and it made her feel something she couldn't quite put into words.
As if sensing her gaze, Yuzuru glanced up mid-laughter and caught Shiori's eyes. He waved at her with a cheerful smile.
"Shiori, come here!" he called out. "Kaito wants to show you something."
Encouraged by his beckoning, Shiori walked over to join them. She knelt down beside them, and for a brief moment, the three of them looked like a picture-perfect family-filled with laughter, warmth, and harmony.
After playing together, Kaito finally drifted off to sleep, nestled between Shiori and Yuzuru. The two lay quietly on either side of him, enjoying the peaceful stillness that followed a day filled with laughter and play.
Yuzuru shifted slightly, turning onto his side to face Shiori. A warm smile spread across his face as he gazed at her.
"If we had a child like Kaito," he said softly, "the house would never be quiet. He's so full of energy, isn't he?"
Shiori chuckled lightly, her eyes resting on Kaito's serene sleeping face.
"Yes, he really is. But it's nice, isn't it? Seeing him so cheerful makes everything feel brighter."
Yuzuru laughed quietly, his voice teasing. "But what if we had a child like Sora instead? Quiet, no antics. I think it'd be a lot more peaceful."
Shiori laughed at his playful comment, shaking her head. "Sora may be quiet, but she always stays by our side. That loyalty counts for something, doesn't it?"
Yuzuru's smile softened as he watched her. There was something about the way she spoke-gentle yet thoughtful-that filled him with a sense of warmth. A moment of silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was a shared stillness, a quiet recognition of the bond that had started to grow between them.
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The soft glow of the room seemed to wrap around them, making the moment feel timeless, filled with unspoken emotions they were only beginning to understand.