The morning sun peeked through the curtains of Izuna’s room, casting a soft glow on the scattered papers and books on his desk. Izuna rubbed his eyes, the faint buzz of his alarm clock still echoing in his ears. Today was going to be different—a day of reflection, challenges, and unexpected encounters.

  After a quick breakfast, Izuna received a message from Airi.

  Airi said, “Meet me at the park today. We need to discuss something important.”

  Izuna furrowed his brows, a sense of curiosity mixed with concern. Airi rarely sounded this serious. He quickly got ready, donning a casual white shirt and jeans, and headed out.

  At the park, Airi stood by the fountain, her expression pensive. She wore a light green sundress that swayed gently in the breeze. As Izuna approached, she noticed him and waved, though her usual energy seemed subdued.

  “What’s up?” Izuna asked, stopping a few steps away.

  Airi hesitated before responding. “It’s about our recent outings… and how things have been changing between us.”

  Izuna tilted his head. “Changing? What do you mean?”

  Airi glanced away, her cheeks faintly pink. “I mean, we’ve been spending a lot of time together. And… people are starting to talk.”

  Izuna raised an eyebrow. “Talk? About what?”

  “You know!” Airi said, her voice rising slightly. “They’re saying we’re… a couple or something.”

  Izuna blinked, caught off guard. “Why would they think that?”

  Airi crossed her arms, exhaling sharply. “Maybe because we’ve been acting like one lately? The dates, the teasing, the way we’re always around each other…” She trailed off, her face turning red.

  Izuna scratched the back of his head, feeling a mix of embarrassment and confusion. “So… what do you want to do about it?”

  Airi bit her lip, her gaze finally meeting his. “I think we need to figure out where we stand. Are we just friends? Or is there something more going on here?”

  Before Izuna could respond, they were interrupted by the arrival of Athena, who appeared out of nowhere, her usual mischievous grin plastered across her face.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” she teased, hands on her hips. “A secret rendezvous?”

  Airi groaned, her frustration evident. “Athena, do you always have to show up at the worst times?”

  Athena shrugged, unbothered. “I was just passing by. But now that I’m here, I can’t help but notice the tension. What’s going on? Love confession?”

  Izuna sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s nothing like that. Airi just wanted to talk.”

  Athena smirked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Sure, sure. But you two do make a cute couple, you know?”

  Airi’s face turned crimson as she waved her hands frantically. “It’s not like that!”

  Izuna shook his head, deciding to change the subject. “Why are you even here, Athena?”

  Athena leaned against the fountain, clearly enjoying the chaos she’d caused. “Oh, I had some errands to run nearby. But now I’m thinking I should stick around and watch this drama unfold.”

  The conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the question Airi had raised lingered in the back of Izuna’s mind. As the three of them chatted, he couldn’t help but wonder: What did he really feel about Airi? And how would this uncertainty affect their dynamic moving forward?

  The next morning, Izuna found himself sitting at his desk, staring blankly at his notebook. Airi’s question from the park replayed in his mind over and over: “Are we just friends? Or is there something more going on here?”

  He let out a long sigh, running his fingers through his hair. “Why does this have to be so complicated?”

  A soft knock on his door startled him. He turned to see Athena leaning casually against the doorframe, a knowing smirk on her lips.

  “You’ve been moping all morning,” she said, walking into the room without waiting for an invitation. “What’s eating you?”

  Izuna groaned. “Athena, I’m not in the mood for your teasing right now.”

  “Who said I was here to tease?” she replied, plopping down on his bed. “But seriously, what’s going on? You’ve been acting weird ever since yesterday.”

  Izuna hesitated before responding. “It’s about Airi… and what she said at the park.”

  Athena raised an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued. “Oh? What did she say?”

  “She asked if we’re just friends or if there’s something more between us,” Izuna admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Athena’s smirk widened. “Oh-ho! And what did you say?”

  “I didn’t,” Izuna replied, slumping in his chair. “I mean, I didn’t know what to say. I still don’t.”

  Athena leaned back, crossing her arms. “Well, do you think there’s something more?”

  Izuna opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. After a moment, he shook his head. “I don’t know. Airi’s important to me, but I’ve never really thought about it like that.”

  Athena’s expression softened slightly. “Look, Izuna, it’s okay to be confused. But if you don’t figure it out soon, you’re going to hurt her—and yourself. So maybe it’s time to start thinking about what you really want.”

  Later that afternoon, Izuna decided to clear his mind with a walk. The streets were bustling with people, but his thoughts remained focused on Airi. He wandered aimlessly until he found himself near the café where they often met with their friends.

  As fate would have it, Airi was sitting at one of the outdoor tables, sipping a cup of coffee. She noticed him almost immediately and waved him over.

  “Izuna! What are you doing here?” she asked, her smile as bright as ever.

  “Just… needed some fresh air,” he replied, taking a seat across from her.

  Airi studied him for a moment before speaking. “You’ve been acting strange lately. Is everything okay?”

  Izuna hesitated, his mind racing. Should he bring up the conversation from yesterday? Or would that just make things more awkward?

  Before he could decide, Airi leaned forward, her expression serious. “If it’s about what I said at the park, I didn’t mean to pressure you. I just… I needed to know where we stand.”

  Izuna’s heart sank at the vulnerability in her voice. “Airi, I—”

  “Hey, lovebirds!”

  They both turned to see Ren approaching, his usual carefree grin plastered across his face.

  “Ren!” Airi exclaimed, clearly flustered. “We’re not—”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know,” Ren interrupted, waving her off. “But you two sure do spend a lot of time together. Makes people wonder, you know?”

  Airi groaned, burying her face in her hands, while Izuna could only chuckle nervously.

  As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Izuna found himself relaxing. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t avoid the question forever. Airi deserved an answer—and sooner or later, he’d have to figure out what that answer was.

  The following day, Izuna decided to take Athena’s advice seriously. He couldn’t keep running away from his feelings, not when Airi was waiting for clarity. But the question remained: how did he truly feel about her?

  To distract himself, he went to the office early. The usual buzz of co-workers filled the room, but Izuna couldn’t help noticing Airi’s absence. It wasn’t like her to be late, and it only added to his growing anxiety.

  “Looking for someone?” a familiar voice teased from behind him.

  Izuna turned to see Ren leaning casually against his desk, his trademark grin firmly in place.

  “Not really,” Izuna muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.

  Ren laughed, clearly not buying it. “Yeah, sure. You’ve been glancing at the door every five seconds. Let me guess—Airi?”

  Izuna’s silence was all the confirmation Ren needed.

  “Relax, man. She’s probably just running late,” Ren said, clapping Izuna on the shoulder. “But since we’re on the subject… have you figured out what’s going on between you two yet?”

  Izuna sighed, slumping in his chair. “Why is everyone so interested in my relationship with Airi all of a sudden?”

  “Because it’s painfully obvious to everyone except you two,” Ren replied with a smirk. “Come on, Izuna. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

  Before Izuna could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps drew their attention. Airi burst into the room, slightly out of breath but smiling brightly.

  “Sorry I’m late!” she called out, quickly making her way to her desk.

  Izuna felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he couldn’t explain why.

  Later in the day, during their lunch break, Airi approached Izuna with her usual cheerful energy.

  “Hey, want to grab lunch together?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

  Izuna nodded, grateful for the chance to spend some time with her. They walked to a nearby park, where the trees provided a pleasant shade from the midday sun.

  As they ate, Airi brought up the topic of their friends’ teasing. “You know, Ren’s been saying some pretty ridiculous things lately.”

  Izuna chuckled nervously. “Yeah, he seems to enjoy stirring the pot.”

  Airi sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “It’s kind of embarrassing, though. I mean, people assuming things about us…”

  Izuna hesitated, his heart pounding. This was his chance to say something, but the words caught in his throat.

  Airi noticed his silence and tilted her head. “Izuna? Are you okay?”

  “I… I’ve been thinking about what you said at the park,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Airi’s cheeks turned pink, but she didn’t look away. “And?”

  Izuna took a deep breath, summoning all his courage. “I don’t have all the answers yet. But… I do know that you’re important to me. More than just a friend.”

  Airi’s eyes widened in surprise, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Really?”

  Izuna nodded, his own cheeks heating up. “Yeah. I just… I need a little more time to figure everything out.”

  Airi’s smile grew, and she reached out to lightly touch his hand. “That’s okay. I can wait.”

  In that moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. For the first time, Izuna felt a sense of clarity, even if the road ahead was still uncertain.

  The following weekend, Izuna found himself wandering the shopping district with Ren and Tamaki. Ren had insisted on dragging him out to “clear his head,” though Izuna strongly suspected it was more about Ren wanting an excuse to hit up the arcade.

  “You’ve been too serious lately, Izuna,” Ren said, throwing an arm around his shoulder. “Time to loosen up a bit. Maybe we’ll even run into Airi while we’re here. Wouldn’t that be a coincidence?”

  Izuna groaned. “Ren, can you stop bringing her up for five minutes?”

  Tamaki chuckled, sipping from a can of soda. “He’s not wrong, though. You’re practically glowing whenever you talk about her these days.”

  Izuna shot him a look but didn’t bother denying it. Instead, he changed the subject. “So, what’s the plan? Or are we just wandering aimlessly?”

  Ren grinned, pointing toward the arcade. “Obviously, we’re starting there. First one to beat my high score gets a free lunch!”

  Izuna rolled his eyes but followed along.

  Meanwhile, Airi was at a nearby café with Sakura and Athena. The three of them had agreed to meet up for a girls’ day out, though the conversation inevitably turned to Izuna.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “So,” Athena began, leaning across the table with a mischievous grin, “how are things going between you and our clueless hero?”

  Airi’s face turned bright red. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

  “Because it’s fun,” Athena replied. “And because it’s obvious you two have something going on, even if neither of you will admit it.”

  Sakura smiled softly, her tone more gentle. “Athena’s right, though. You seem happier when you’re around him. Do you think you might… you know, like him?”

  Airi fidgeted with her cup, avoiding their gazes. “I don’t know. Maybe. He’s been on my mind a lot lately, but I don’t want to rush into anything and ruin what we have.”

  Athena rolled her eyes. “Typical Airi, overthinking everything. Just go for it! Life’s too short to wait around for the perfect moment.”

  Sakura placed a reassuring hand on Airi’s. “You’ll know when the time is right. Just trust your feelings.”

  Airi nodded, her resolve strengthening. “Thanks, you two. I’ll figure it out.”

  As the day went on, fate intervened once again. Izuna and his friends were leaving the arcade just as Airi and the girls exited the café. The two groups ran into each other in the middle of the shopping district.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” Ren teased, waggling his eyebrows at Izuna.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” Athena added with a sly smile.

  Airi and Izuna exchanged awkward smiles, both clearly flustered.

  “Um, hi,” Airi said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Hi,” Izuna replied, scratching the back of his neck.

  Sakura and Tamaki exchanged knowing looks, while Ren and Athena exchanged smirks.

  Before anyone could say anything else, Ren clapped his hands together. “Well, since we’re all here, how about we grab some dinner? My treat!”

  The suggestion was met with enthusiastic agreement from everyone except Izuna and Airi, who were too busy sneaking glances at each other to protest.

  As they walked to a nearby restaurant, Izuna couldn’t help but feel that, for all the teasing and awkwardness, he was exactly where he was meant to be.

  The group settled into a cozy booth at the restaurant, their chatter filling the air as menus were passed around. Ren immediately took charge of ordering appetizers, his excitement palpable as he listed off practically half the menu.

  “You’re going to bankrupt yourself,” Tamaki teased, leaning back in his chair.

  “Worth it,” Ren shot back. “This is an investment in memories!”

  Sakura chuckled softly. “You’re certainly good at creating those.”

  While the others joked, Airi and Izuna found themselves sitting next to each other, the proximity adding to their nervous energy. Airi glanced at Izuna, who was staring intently at the menu as though it held the secrets to the universe.

  “You’ve been quiet,” she said softly.

  Izuna blinked and looked up, realizing she was talking to him. “Oh, uh… sorry. Just trying to figure out what to order.”

  Airi smiled. “You always get the same thing. Why are you pretending to deliberate now?”

  Caught, Izuna rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled awkwardly. “I guess I’m just a little distracted.”

  “By what?” Airi asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

  Izuna hesitated, his gaze flickering to her for a moment before he quickly looked away. “Nothing. Just… stuff.”

  Airi raised an eyebrow but decided not to press further. She had a feeling she knew what—or who—was on his mind.

  As the food arrived, the group fell into lively conversation. Ren entertained everyone with exaggerated stories of his “legendary” high school days, while Athena chimed in with sarcastic commentary that had the table roaring with laughter.

  At one point, Sakura turned her attention to Airi and Izuna. “So, you two have been spending a lot of time together lately. Any fun stories to share?”

  Airi nearly choked on her drink, her face turning bright red. “W-What? No, not really!”

  Izuna, equally flustered, waved his hands defensively. “Yeah, just normal stuff. Nothing special.”

  The rest of the table exchanged amused glances, clearly unconvinced.

  “Oh, come on,” Athena teased. “There has to be something. You’re both terrible liars.”

  Airi shot Athena a glare, her embarrassment only fuelling her determination to change the subject. “What about you, Athena? Any interesting stories about your love life?”

  The tables turned, Athena smirked. “Nice try, Airi. But this isn’t about me.”

  Ren leaned forward, his grin widening. “Don’t worry, we’ll get to her next. Right now, it’s your turn.”

  Feeling cornered, Airi and Izuna exchanged a helpless look. Airi sighed in defeat, deciding it was better to give them something than to let the teasing continue indefinitely.

  “Well,” she began hesitantly, “there was this one time Izuna spilled coffee all over himself at the office because he was too busy daydreaming.”

  Izuna groaned, covering his face with his hands as the table erupted in laughter. “Why would you bring that up?”

  “Because it’s funny,” Airi replied, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten as she giggled.

  Despite himself, Izuna couldn’t help but smile. Seeing Airi laugh so freely made the teasing worth it.

  By the time the meal ended, the group was thoroughly relaxed and in high spirits. As they left the restaurant, Ren stretched dramatically.

  “Man, that was great. We should do this more often!”

  Tamaki nodded. “Agreed. It’s nice to hang out outside of work.”

  Athena smirked. “Just don’t make it a habit to blow your pay check on food, Ren.”

  As the group began to disperse, Izuna and Airi found themselves walking home together. The night air was cool and crisp, the streets quiet except for the occasional passing car.

  “Thanks for coming out tonight,” Airi said, breaking the silence.

  Izuna glanced at her, surprised. “You’re thanking me? You’re the one who made it fun.”

  Airi blushed, looking down at her feet. “Still, it was nice. I feel like… we’re getting closer.”

  Izuna’s heart skipped a beat at her words. For a moment, he considered saying something more, but the words didn’t come. Instead, he simply nodded, a soft smile on his face.

  “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Me too.”

  As they walked side by side, the distance between them seemed to shrink, both physically and emotionally. Whatever lay ahead, they knew they would face it together.

  The following day at work, the atmosphere in the office was buzzing with energy. Airi was busy organizing files when Athena walked up to her desk, leaning casually against it.

  “So,” Athena began, her tone teasing, “you and Izuna seemed pretty cozy last night. Walked home together, huh?”

  Airi froze mid-task, her cheeks flushing. “It wasn’t like that. We just happened to leave at the same time.”

  Athena smirked, unconvinced. “Sure, sure. And I’m a saint. Come on, Airi, don’t play coy with me. There’s something between you two, isn’t there?”

  Airi sighed, setting down the folder in her hands. “I… I don’t know. Maybe? It’s complicated. I mean, he’s kind and thoughtful, and I feel comfortable around him, but…”

  “But you’re scared to take the next step,” Athena finished for her.

  Airi looked at her in surprise. “How did you—”

  “I’m your friend, Airi,” Athena said with a soft smile. “I know how your mind works. You’re overthinking this, as usual. Just follow your heart for once. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Airi hesitated, biting her lip. “I guess you’re right. I just… don’t want to ruin what we have.”

  Athena patted her shoulder reassuringly. “You won’t. Trust me, Izuna feels the same way. He’s just as clueless as you are.”

  Meanwhile, on the other side of the office, Ren and Tamaki were grilling Izuna.

  “So, how was the walk home?” Ren asked, leaning back in his chair with a mischievous grin.

  Izuna groaned. “Why does everyone keep bringing this up? It was just a walk.”

  Tamaki chuckled. “Just a walk, huh? Then why are you blushing?”

  “I’m not blushing!” Izuna protested, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.

  Ren leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. “Come on, Izuna. We’re your friends. You can tell us. Do you like her?”

  Izuna hesitated, his mind racing. Did he like Airi? Of course he did. But admitting it out loud felt… daunting.

  “I don’t know,” he finally said. “I mean, she’s amazing—smart, funny, and beautiful. But what if she doesn’t feel the same way? I don’t want to mess things up.”

  Tamaki nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a valid concern, but you’ll never know unless you try. Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith.”

  Ren grinned, clapping Izuna on the back. “Exactly! Go big or go home, man. Life’s too short for regrets.”

  Izuna sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll think about it.”

  Later that day, Athena and Ren conspired to give their friends a little nudge.

  “Operation Matchmaker is officially underway,” Ren declared, rubbing his hands together.

  Athena smirked. “Let’s just hope they don’t kill us when they find out.”

  The next day, Athena and Ren put their plan into action. With a few strategic moves, they ensured that Izuna and Airi were paired up for a work project.

  Airi walked into the meeting room, surprised to find Izuna already there. “Oh, it’s you. Are we working together on this project?”

  Izuna glanced up, equally surprised but trying to play it cool. “Looks like it. Ren and Athena said this was urgent, so I guess it’s just us.”

  As they settled into the task, the atmosphere was initially awkward. Both were hyper-aware of the other’s presence, making even simple tasks feel overly complicated.

  “So,” Izuna began, breaking the silence, “how do you want to divide this work?”

  Airi fidgeted with her pen. “Maybe I can handle the research while you focus on drafting the proposal?”

  “Sounds good,” Izuna replied, nodding.

  They worked in relative silence for a while, the clicking of keyboards and rustling of papers the only sounds in the room. But gradually, the tension began to ease.

  About an hour into their work session, Airi glanced up and noticed Izuna frowning at his screen.

  “Something wrong?” she asked, leaning slightly toward him.

  Izuna sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, this data isn’t adding up. I think I missed something in the calculations.”

  “Let me see,” Airi offered, moving her chair closer.

  Their heads were suddenly very close as they both stared at the screen. Airi could feel the warmth of Izuna’s presence, and her heart began to race.

  “You just forgot to carry this number here,” she said, pointing at the error.

  Izuna blinked, realizing how simple the mistake was. “Oh. Wow. That’s embarrassing.”

  Airi chuckled softly. “It happens to everyone.”

  They exchanged a smile, the moment lingering just a bit longer than usual.

  Outside the meeting room, Ren and Athena watched through the glass wall, grinning like mischievous conspirators.

  “Looks like things are going well,” Ren whispered.

  Athena smirked. “Told you this would work. Sometimes, they just need a little push.”

  By the time the project was complete, the awkwardness between Airi and Izuna had completely dissipated. As they packed up their things, Airi turned to Izuna with a shy smile.

  “Thanks for your help today. I think we make a pretty good team.”

  Izuna smiled back, his heart fluttering at her words. “Yeah, we do. Maybe we should work together more often.”

  Airi blushed, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Maybe.”

  As they left the room, walking side by side, both couldn’t help but feel that something had shifted between them.

  The following day, Airi couldn’t stop thinking about the time she’d spent with Izuna. His genuine smile and the way they’d worked seamlessly together stayed in her mind, much to her frustration.

  “Why does he keep popping into my head?” she muttered to herself, sipping her coffee at her desk.

  Meanwhile, Izuna was dealing with his own internal conflict. Every time he tried to focus on his tasks, memories of Airi leaning close to him, her soft chuckle, and the way her hair framed her face invaded his thoughts.

  “What’s wrong with me?” he mumbled, rubbing his temples.

  During lunch, Athena noticed Airi sitting at the cafeteria table, poking at her food with a distracted look on her face. She slid into the seat across from her with a smirk.

  “Thinking about someone special?” Athena teased.

  Airi immediately snapped out of her daze, her cheeks turning red. “W-What? No, of course not! Don’t be ridiculous!”

  Athena chuckled. “Relax, I was just kidding... unless you want to tell me something?”

  Airi huffed, trying to deflect. “I’m just tired from all the work yesterday, that’s all.”

  “Uh-huh, sure,” Athena said with a knowing grin.

  At the same time, Ren had cornered Izuna in the break room.

  “So, how’d the project with Airi go?” Ren asked casually, leaning against the counter.

  Izuna hesitated, not wanting to give too much away. “It was fine. We got everything done.”

  Ren raised an eyebrow. “Just fine? Come on, man. I saw you two. You seemed to be getting along pretty well.”

  Izuna sighed, knowing he couldn’t fool Ren. “Okay, yeah, it wasn’t bad. She’s... easier to work with than I expected.”

  Ren smirked. “Easier to work with, huh? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

  Izuna groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Can we not do this right now?”

  “Hey, I’m just saying. It wouldn’t hurt to explore whatever this is,” Ren said, clapping Izuna on the shoulder.

  Later that day, Airi and Izuna crossed paths in the hallway. Both paused, their eyes meeting for a moment before they quickly looked away.

  “Uh, hey,” Izuna said, scratching the back of his head.

  “Hi,” Airi replied, fidgeting with her pen.

  There was an awkward silence before Airi finally spoke. “About yesterday... thanks for helping with the project. I think it turned out really well.”

  Izuna smiled. “Yeah, it did. You were a big help too.”

  They shared a small, genuine smile before going their separate ways, each feeling their hearts beat a little faster.

  Watching from afar, Athena and Ren exchanged satisfied looks.

  “This is getting interesting,” Athena said with a smirk.

  “Definitely. I’d say it’s only a matter of time,” Ren agreed.

  The weekend arrived, bringing a much-needed break for everyone. Airi found herself scrolling through her phone, debating whether she should reach out to Izuna. Her finger hovered over his contact, her thoughts racing.

  “Why am I overthinking this? It’s not like I’m asking him out or anything... right?” she muttered to herself, tossing her phone onto the couch.

  On the other side of town, Izuna was experiencing a similar dilemma. He stared at his phone, Ren’s words from earlier in the week echoing in his mind.

  “It wouldn’t hurt to explore whatever this is...”

  With a sigh, Izuna decided to take the plunge. He opened his messaging app and typed:

  Izuna, “Hey, are you free today?”

  Airi’s phone buzzed, making her jump. Seeing Izuna’s name on the screen sent a jolt through her. She hesitated for a moment before replying.

  Airi said, “Yeah, I’m free. Why?”

  Izuna exhaled, trying to calm his nerves.

  Izuna said, “I was thinking... maybe we could grab coffee or something? You know, just to relax after all the work this week.”

  Airi stared at the message, her heart racing. After a moment, she typed back:

  Airi said, “Sure. When and where?”

  An hour later, they met at a small café in the city. Airi had opted for a casual yet stylish outfit: a light blue blouse tucked into a flowy skirt, paired with ankle boots. Izuna wore a simple button-up shirt and jeans, looking effortlessly put together.

  They greeted each other with a mixture of awkwardness and warmth before stepping inside.

  As they sat at a table near the window, the conversation started off hesitant.

  “So, uh, have you been here before?” Izuna asked, stirring his coffee.

  “No, it’s my first time. It’s a nice place, though,” Airi replied, glancing around.

  The ice gradually began to melt as they talked about their hobbies, favorite movies, and shared some light-hearted jokes.

  At one point, Airi mentioned Athena, which brought a teasing smile to Izuna’s face.

  “She’s always giving me a hard time,” Airi said with a chuckle.

  “Well, you do make it easy sometimes,” Izuna teased, earning a playful glare from Airi.

  “Oh, really? And what about you? Don’t think I haven’t noticed how Ren always seems to have something to say about you,” she shot back.

  They laughed, the tension between them easing with each passing moment.

  As they walked out of the café later, the sun setting in the distance, there was a comfortable silence between them.

  “Thanks for today,” Airi said softly, glancing up at Izuna.

  “Yeah, it was nice,” he replied, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  For a brief moment, their eyes met, and the world seemed to slow down. But before either of them could say anything, Airi quickly looked away, her cheeks turning pink.

  “W-We should do this again sometime,” she said hurriedly.

  “Yeah, I’d like that,” Izuna replied, his own face slightly flushed.

  As they parted ways, both of them couldn’t help but smile, already looking forward to the next time.

  The next morning, Izuna woke up feeling lighter than he had in a long time. He replayed the moments from the previous day in his mind, a small smile tugging at his lips. He was still surprised at how natural it had felt to talk to Airi outside of work.

  At the same time, Airi sat at her desk, absently stirring her coffee while gazing out the window. Her thoughts were consumed by the café outing and the easy connection they had shared.

  “It’s just a friendly outing,” she told herself, trying to push away the warmth blooming in her chest. But her reflection in the window betrayed her thoughts—her cheeks were still tinged pink.

  At work, Athena was quick to notice the shift in Airi’s demeanor.

  “Well, someone looks unusually chipper today,” Athena teased, leaning on Airi’s desk.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Airi replied, trying to focus on her screen.

  “Oh, please. You’re practically glowing. Did something happen? Did a certain someone confess their undying love?” Athena said with a mischievous grin.

  Airi turned to glare at her friend. “Nothing like that happened. We just grabbed coffee, okay?”

  “‘We’? Oh, so it was Izuna,” Athena said, smirking.

  “Shh! Don’t say it so loud!” Airi hissed, her face heating up.

  Meanwhile, Ren and Tamaki cornered Izuna during their break.

  “So,” Ren began, leaning against the wall with a sly grin, “you and Airi, huh?”

  “Yeah, what about us?” Izuna asked, feigning nonchalance but failing miserably.

  Tamaki chuckled. “Don’t play dumb. Ren saw you two leaving the café yesterday. It looked pretty cozy.”

  Izuna sighed, knowing there was no escape. “We just hung out. That’s all.”

  Ren raised an eyebrow. “Hung out? Sure. But you can’t fool me, man. The way you were looking at her—”

  “Okay, stop,” Izuna interrupted, running a hand through his hair. “It was nice, alright? She’s easy to talk to.”

  Tamaki and Ren exchanged a knowing look but didn’t press further.

  Later that evening, Airi found herself texting Izuna.

  Airi said, “Thanks again for yesterday. It was fun.”

  A few moments later, her phone buzzed.

  Izuna replied, “Yeah, it was. Let’s do it again sometime.”

  Airi stared at the message, her heart fluttering. She typed a quick reply before setting her phone down and flopping onto her bed.

  For both Izuna and Airi, the day ended with a sense of anticipation. Something was shifting between them, and neither could deny it anymore.