The cold winter morning brought with it a new set of challenges for Izuna and Airi. Snowfall from the previous night had blanketed the city, transforming the streets into a picturesque winter wonderland. However, it also meant the roads were slippery, and the freezing temperature made it nearly impossible to leave the warmth of their apartment.

  Izuna stood in the kitchen, brewing coffee while glancing out the window. “Looks like today’s going to be one of those lazy days,” he remarked, his voice calm but laced with a hint of contentment.

  Airi entered the kitchen, wrapped in a cozy blanket over her pajamas. “I hope you’re not planning to hog the heater all day,” she teased, taking a seat at the counter.

  “I wasn’t,” Izuna replied, pouring her a cup of coffee. “But since you mentioned it, I might consider it now.”

  Airi rolled her eyes, accepting the coffee. “You’re impossible.”

  As they sipped their coffee, their conversation drifted to the upcoming winter festival in the city.

  “Are you going this year?” Airi asked, her voice casual.

  “Not really my thing,” Izuna replied. “Too many people, too much noise.”

  “Oh, come on!” Airi protested. “It’s a tradition! There’s food, music, and fireworks. What’s not to like?”

  “Standing in the cold for hours just to watch some lights explode in the sky,” Izuna quipped, smirking.

  “You’re hopeless,” Airi muttered, shaking her head.

  Despite his reluctance, Airi was determined to convince him. She spent the rest of the morning pestering him with stories of past festivals, her excitement growing with each memory. Izuna listened patiently, his resolve slowly weakening.

  Finally, he sighed. “Alright, alright, I’ll go. But only because I don’t want to hear you nagging about it anymore.”

  Airi beamed, her enthusiasm infectious. “You won’t regret it, Izuna. I promise!”

  As the snow continued to fall outside, the two spent the rest of the day planning their visit to the festival. It was clear that this outing would bring a new set of adventures—and possibly even a few surprises.

  The next day, Airi and Izuna prepared to head out for the winter festival. The air was crisp, and the streets glistened with freshly fallen snow. The festival was already bustling with activity, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts and sweet treats wafted through the air.

  Izuna adjusted his scarf as they walked side by side. “You’re really excited about this, aren’t you?” he asked, noticing the sparkle in Airi’s eyes.

  “Of course!” Airi replied, clutching her coat tightly against the cold. “It’s not just about the festival—it’s about experiencing it together. Don’t act like you’re not enjoying this!”

  Izuna smirked. “I’m here, aren’t I? That’s already a big deal.”

  Airi gave him a playful nudge. “You’re lucky I’m patient with your attitude.”

  As they entered the festival grounds, the atmosphere came alive with vibrant colors and lively music. Stalls lined the streets, offering everything from handmade crafts to steaming bowls of ramen.

  “Let’s start with the food stalls,” Airi suggested, dragging Izuna along.

  “Typical,” Izuna teased. “You and your obsession with snacks.”

  “Don’t pretend like you’re not hungry,” Airi shot back, leading him to a stand selling taiyaki.

  They ordered a pair of piping-hot taiyaki filled with custard. Airi took a bite and let out a satisfied sigh. “This is so good! You have to try it.”

  Izuna took a reluctant bite, nodding in approval. “Not bad,” he admitted.

  “See? I told you!” Airi grinned, holding her taiyaki like it was the most precious thing in the world.

  As they wandered further, Airi stopped at a stall selling snow globes. Her gaze lingered on one featuring a miniature snowy village.

  “You like that one?” Izuna asked, noticing her fascination.

  “It’s beautiful,” Airi said softly. “It reminds me of the stories my grandmother used to tell me about her hometown.”

  Without a word, Izuna bought the snow globe and handed it to her.

  Airi’s eyes widened. “You didn’t have to—”

  “Think of it as a souvenir,” Izuna interrupted, avoiding her gaze. “Just don’t lose it.”

  Airi smiled warmly, clutching the snow globe close. “Thank you, Izuna.”

  Their evening at the festival was off to a memorable start, but it was clear that more surprises awaited them as the night unfolded.

  The next morning, Izuna woke up to the sound of a notification on his phone. He reached over groggily, blinking at the bright screen.

  Airi: “Meet me at the café near our apartment at 10 AM. Don’t be late!”

  He sighed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to get out of it even if he tried. Airi was persistent. Glancing at the clock, he realized he barely had time to get ready.

  At the café, Airi was already seated at an outdoor table, sipping on an iced coffee. She waved energetically as Izuna approached.

  “You’re late!” she said, pretending to scold him.

  “I’m two minutes late,” he replied flatly, taking a seat across from her.

  “Well, two minutes is two minutes,” she teased, placing a small bag on the table. “Anyway, I got something for you.”

  Izuna raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

  Airi pushed the bag toward him. “Open it and see!”

  Curious, Izuna opened the bag to find a small keychain with a lantern charm, similar to the ones they had set afloat at the festival.

  “Why this?” he asked, holding it up.

  “I thought it would be a nice memory of last night,” she said, her voice softening. “You don’t usually keep things like this, but… I wanted you to have it.”

  Izuna looked at the charm for a moment before attaching it to his bag. “Thanks. I’ll keep it.”

  Their conversation was interrupted when Athena suddenly appeared, carrying a tray of drinks and a cheerful smile.

  “Izuna! Airi! What a coincidence!” Athena said, placing the tray on their table.

  “What are you doing here?” Airi asked, her tone slightly sharper than usual.

  “Oh, I work part-time here on weekends,” Athena explained, ignoring Airi’s tone. “What are you two up to?”

  “Just grabbing coffee,” Izuna replied casually, though he noticed Airi’s expression shift slightly.

  Athena took a seat beside Izuna, leaning in slightly as she spoke. “Last night’s festival was so beautiful, wasn’t it? I saw the lanterns from my window.”

  “It was great,” Izuna said, feeling a little awkward under Airi’s glare.

  “Next time, you should invite me along,” Athena said, giving him a playful smile.

  Airi cleared her throat loudly. “I’m sure you were busy with work, Athena. It’s not like you could’ve come.”

  Athena blinked, then smiled sweetly. “Oh, don’t worry, Airi. I’ll make time if it means spending the evening with you two.”

  Izuna sighed, sensing the tension building between the two. “I think I’ll go get a refill,” he said, standing up.

  As soon as he walked away, Athena turned to Airi with a knowing look. “You’re awfully protective, aren’t you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Airi said, sipping her coffee.

  Athena leaned in, her smile turning sly. “Don’t worry, Airi. I’m not here to steal him away. But… you might want to be more honest about how you feel.”

  Airi frowned but didn’t respond.

  When Izuna returned, he noticed the odd silence between them. “Did I miss something?”

  “Not at all,” Athena said, standing up and picking up her tray. “I should get back to work. Enjoy your coffee!”

  As she walked away, Airi crossed her arms, staring at her cup.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Izuna asked, taking his seat again.

  “Nothing,” she muttered, avoiding his gaze.

  “Right,” he said, deciding not to push further.

  But as they sat there in silence, Izuna couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them.

  The afternoon sun hung high as Izuna and Airi strolled back to their apartment after the café encounter. Airi was unusually quiet, her arms crossed as if she was holding onto something unsaid. Izuna glanced at her several times, unsure how to approach the topic.

  “You’re unusually quiet,” he finally said.

  “I’m thinking,” she replied curtly.

  “About what?”

  Airi stopped walking, turning to face him. Her eyes carried a mix of frustration and vulnerability. “Do you think Athena likes you?”

  Izuna blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

  “You heard me,” Airi said, her voice firmer this time.

  He scratched the back of his neck. “I… don’t know. Why does it matter?”

  Airi’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “It doesn’t matter. I was just curious.”

  Izuna tilted his head, studying her expression. “Are you jealous?”

  “What?!” Airi’s face turned red, and she threw her hands up defensively. “Of course not! Why would I be jealous of her? She’s just… Athena!”

  Izuna smirked slightly, sensing her discomfort. “You’re acting weird, Airi.”

  “Maybe you’re the weird one!” she shot back, walking ahead of him in a huff.

  By the time they reached their apartment building, Airi had cooled down a bit. She glanced at Izuna, who was still smiling faintly.

  “Stop smiling like that,” she muttered.

  “Like what?” he asked, feigning innocence.

  “Like you know something I don’t,” she grumbled, unlocking the door to her apartment.

  Izuna leaned against the doorframe. “I don’t know why you’re so worked up about Athena. She’s just a friend.”

  Airi paused, her hand on the doorknob. She turned to him, her voice softer this time. “It’s not just about Athena. I don’t know… I guess I’m worried about being replaced.”

  “Replaced?” Izuna repeated, his smile fading.

  Airi sighed, looking down. “We’ve been close for so long, Izuna. I guess I’m scared that if someone else gets closer to you, I’ll end up being just… someone you used to know.”

  Izuna stared at her, surprised by her honesty. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

  “You’re an idiot,” he finally said, his tone gentle.

  Airi looked up, startled. “What?”

  “You’re not going to be replaced,” he said, stepping closer. “No one could replace you, Airi. Not Athena, not anyone.”

  Her eyes widened slightly, and she felt her cheeks heat up again. “You… you don’t have to say it like that.”

  Izuna shrugged, giving her a small smile. “It’s the truth.”

  Airi stared at him for a moment longer before turning away. “Whatever. Don’t expect me to thank you for that.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Didn’t expect you to,” he teased.

  She stepped inside her apartment, pausing to look back at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yeah,” he said, watching as she closed the door.

  As Izuna walked back to his own apartment, he couldn’t help but think about her words. Airi had always been the most important person in his life, but today, he realized just how much she meant to him.

  And maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change between them.

  The next morning, Airi was the first to arrive at work. She sat at her desk, fiddling with a pen as her thoughts lingered on her conversation with Izuna the previous evening. His words echoed in her mind, filling her with a confusing mix of emotions.

  “He’s so dense sometimes… but he really knows how to say something sweet when I least expect it,” she muttered under her breath.

  “Talking to yourself already?” Athena’s voice snapped Airi out of her thoughts.

  Airi looked up to see Athena approaching with a teasing smile. “I wasn’t talking to myself,” Airi quickly defended, her face heating up.

  Athena chuckled, setting her bag on her desk. “Sure, sure. You’re not flustered at all.”

  Airi glared at her. “Why are you always like this in the morning?”

  “It’s called being cheerful,” Athena said with a wink. She leaned closer. “Or are you just in a bad mood because you’re thinking about Izuna?”

  Airi stiffened, her cheeks turning red. “What?! Why would I be thinking about him?”

  Athena grinned. “Oh, no reason. Just thought I saw you two walking home together yesterday. Looked cozy.”

  “We weren’t cozy!” Airi shot back, her voice louder than intended. A few colleagues glanced in their direction, and Airi quickly lowered her voice. “We were just talking.”

  Athena sat down, still smirking. “Uh-huh. Sure. You’ve been acting weird ever since he started hanging out with me more. Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Airi.”

  Airi groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Why does everyone think I’m jealous?!”

  “Because it’s obvious,” Athena said, leaning back in her chair. “But hey, don’t worry. I don’t plan on stealing him or anything. Izuna’s all yours.”

  Airi peeked through her fingers, her face a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “He’s not mine!”

  Athena just laughed, clearly enjoying Airi’s reaction.

  A few minutes later, Izuna strolled into the office, looking unusually energetic. He greeted a few co-worker’s before heading over to Airi’s desk.

  “Morning,” he said with a smile.

  “Morning,” Airi mumbled, still flustered from her conversation with Athena.

  Izuna tilted his head. “You okay? You look… red.”

  “I’m fine!” she snapped, earning a surprised look from him.

  Athena, who had been watching the exchange, stifled a laugh. “Don’t mind her, Izuna. She’s just in a mood today.”

  “I’m not in a mood!” Airi said, glaring at Athena again.

  Izuna raised an eyebrow, looking between the two of them. “Did something happen?”

  “Nope,” Athena said cheerfully. “Just girl talk.”

  Airi groaned, slumping in her chair. “Why do I even bother?”

  As the day went on, the tension between Airi and Athena seemed to ease, though Airi still avoided making eye contact with Izuna. During lunch, however, Athena decided to stir the pot once more.

  “So, Izuna,” she began, a mischievous glint in her eye, “have you ever thought about who you’d want to date in the office?”

  Izuna nearly choked on his drink. “W-What kind of question is that?”

  “Just curious,” Athena said innocently. “It’s not like we don’t all wonder about these things.”

  Airi froze, her chopsticks hovering mid-air. She glanced at Izuna, waiting for his answer.

  “Well, uh…” Izuna scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

  “Really?” Athena pressed. “Not even a little? Come on, you must have someone in mind.”

  Izuna glanced at Airi for a split second before quickly looking away. “Nope. No one.”

  Airi’s heart skipped a beat at that glance, but she quickly shoved the feeling aside.

  “See?” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. “No one. End of discussion.”

  Athena smirked, clearly picking up on the subtle tension. “If you say so.”

  The rest of the lunch break was uneventful, but Airi couldn’t shake the feeling that Athena’s teasing had unearthed something she wasn’t ready to face just yet.

  After lunch, Airi and Izuna found themselves working together on a project. Their desks were pushed together, and the proximity only added to Airi’s already flustered state.

  “Okay, so if we cross-check these figures, we should be able to finalize the report,” Izuna said, his voice calm and focused.

  “Right,” Airi replied, trying to keep her composure as she scribbled notes on her notepad.

  Izuna leaned closer to point at her notes. “Wait, you missed a decimal here.”

  His sudden closeness made Airi’s heart race. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek, and it took all her willpower not to pull away or, worse, react too obviously.

  “O-Oh, thanks,” she stammered, quickly correcting the mistake.

  “You’re acting weird today,” Izuna said, tilting his head in curiosity. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine!” Airi replied a bit too quickly, her voice slightly higher than usual.

  Izuna raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “If you say so. Let’s finish this quickly. I promised Tamaki I’d help him with his report later.”

  “Tamaki?” Airi asked, her tone sharper than she intended. “Why are you always helping him? He’s supposed to do his work himself.”

  Izuna chuckled. “What’s with the sudden hostility? Tamaki’s not that bad.”

  “He’s lazy,” Airi muttered, her cheeks puffing slightly.

  Izuna laughed. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed.”

  Airi froze, her pen slipping from her fingers. “W-What did you just say?”

  “Huh?” Izuna blinked, realizing what he’d said. “Oh, I mean, uh… it’s just an observation.”

  Airi turned away, her face burning. “You’re so weird sometimes.”

  “And you’re not?” Izuna teased, leaning back in his chair. “Anyway, let’s focus. We’re almost done.”

  Meanwhile, across the office, Athena sat at her desk, watching the interaction between Izuna and Airi with great interest. She rested her chin on her hand, a sly smile playing on her lips.

  “They’re so obvious,” she muttered to herself.

  “What’s obvious?” Ren asked, walking by and overhearing her comment.

  Athena gestured toward Airi and Izuna. “Those two. They’re practically a couple already, but neither of them seems to realize it.”

  Ren glanced in their direction, his expression thoughtful. “Well, it’s not really our business, is it?”

  “True, but it’s fun to watch,” Athena said with a grin.

  Ren shook his head, amused. “You’re incorrigible.”

  Back at their desks, Airi and Izuna finally finished the report. Airi stretched her arms above her head, relieved to be done.

  “Good work,” Izuna said, giving her a thumbs-up.

  “Yeah, thanks,” Airi replied, her tone softer now.

  As they packed up their papers, Izuna hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Hey, Airi.”

  “What?” she asked, looking at him curiously.

  “Thanks for putting up with me today. I know I can be a bit… dense sometimes,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

  Airi blinked, surprised by his sincerity. “It’s not a big deal. You’re not that bad… most of the time.”

  Izuna laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Their brief moment of camaraderie was interrupted by Athena, who appeared out of nowhere.

  “So, what’s the plan after work? Another romantic stroll home together?” she teased.

  “Cut it out, Athena!” Airi snapped, her face turning red again.

  Izuna scratched his head, looking confused. “Romantic? What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing!” Airi said quickly, grabbing her bag and standing up. “I’m going home. Alone.”

  Athena smirked as Airi stormed off, clearly flustered. Izuna watched her go, still baffled.

  “What’s with her?” he asked.

  Athena just shook her head, patting his shoulder. “Oh, Izuna… you really are clueless.”

  The next day, Airi arrived at the office earlier than usual. She set her things on her desk and started organizing her work for the day, hoping to distract herself from the events of the previous day.

  However, her peace was short-lived as Athena appeared beside her with her trademark grin.

  “Good morning, Airi,” Athena chirped, pulling up a chair and sitting uncomfortably close.

  “Morning,” Airi muttered, not looking up from her files.

  “You seem... off. Let me guess,” Athena leaned in closer, “it’s about Izuna.”

  Airi stiffened, her pen pausing mid-air. “What? No! Why would it be about him?”

  Athena chuckled. “You’re such a terrible liar. I mean, it’s not like you were blushing like crazy yesterday or anything.”

  “I wasn’t!” Airi protested, her voice rising an octave.

  Athena simply raised an eyebrow. “Right, and I’m the CEO of this company.”

  Before Airi could retort, Izuna entered the office. He looked well-rested, his usual casual smile lighting up the room. Airi’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly focused on her files, pretending not to notice him.

  “Morning, everyone!” Izuna greeted as he walked toward his desk.

  Athena smirked, leaning toward Airi and whispering, “Your prince has arrived.”

  “Stop it!” Airi hissed, her cheeks turning pink.

  As the day progressed, Airi tried her best to avoid prolonged interactions with Izuna, but fate had other plans. Around lunchtime, their manager called them into a meeting room for a last-minute team discussion.

  Inside the room, the seats were limited, and Airi ended up sitting next to Izuna. She kept her gaze fixed on her notebook, trying to ignore the fact that his arm was brushing against hers.

  “Are you okay?” Izuna asked in a low voice, noticing her unusual silence.

  “I’m fine,” Airi replied quickly, not looking at him.

  He tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. “You’ve been acting weird since yesterday. Did something happen?”

  “N-No, nothing happened,” Airi stammered, her grip tightening on her pen.

  Izuna frowned but didn’t push further. The meeting continued, but Airi found it hard to concentrate with him sitting so close.

  After the meeting, Athena cornered Airi in the break room.

  “So, how’s it going with Izuna?” Athena asked, her tone teasing.

  “There’s nothing going on,” Airi insisted, grabbing her coffee mug.

  Athena crossed her arms. “You know, you’re not fooling anyone. It’s obvious to everyone except Izuna, apparently.”

  Airi sighed, leaning against the counter. “Even if… Even if I did like him, it’s not like it would matter. He’s so clueless, and I don’t think he sees me that way.”

  Athena’s expression softened. “You won’t know unless you try. And besides, Izuna’s not as dense as you think. He cares about you more than you realize.”

  Airi stared into her coffee, her thoughts swirling. Could Athena be right?

  Meanwhile, Izuna was at his desk, mulling over his own thoughts. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bothering Airi. Despite her insistence that everything was fine, her behavior told a different story.

  “Maybe I should talk to her after work,” he thought to himself.

  Ren, who had been observing Izuna, spoke up. “Hey, you seem deep in thought. What’s up?”

  Izuna looked at him, hesitating for a moment before replying. “It’s Airi. I feel like she’s upset about something, but she won’t tell me what it is.”

  Ren gave him a knowing smile. “You’re worried about her, huh? That’s pretty telling.”

  “What do you mean?” Izuna asked, genuinely confused.

  Ren chuckled. “You’ll figure it out eventually. Just don’t overthink it.”

  Izuna nodded, though Ren’s words only added to his confusion.

  As the workday drew to a close, Airi packed up her things quickly, hoping to avoid any more awkward encounters with Izuna. However, as soon as she stood up from her desk, she found him waiting for her by the exit.

  “Hey, Airi,” Izuna called out, his usual cheerful tone mixed with a hint of hesitation.

  Airi froze for a moment before plastering on a smile. “Oh, hey, Izuna. Heading home?”

  “Yeah, but actually…” He scratched the back of his neck, looking unusually nervous. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “Talk? About what?”

  “Well, you’ve seemed a bit... off lately,” he said, his brows furrowing slightly. “If there’s something bothering you, you can tell me. I want to help.”

  Airi’s gaze dropped to the floor, her emotions warring inside her. She appreciated his concern, but how could she possibly tell him the truth?

  “It’s nothing, really,” she replied, forcing a laugh. “I guess I’ve just been a little tired from work.”

  Izuna didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure? I mean, you don’t have to pretend with me.”

  Airi’s chest tightened. His sincerity made it harder to maintain her facade. “I… I appreciate it, Izuna, but really, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If you say so. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here, okay?”

  She nodded, her smile softening. “Thanks, Izuna. That means a lot.”

  As they walked out of the office together, the air between them felt lighter, but a lingering tension remained. They stopped at the street corner where they usually parted ways.

  “Take care, Airi,” Izuna said, flashing her a warm smile.

  “You too,” she replied, her heart fluttering despite herself.

  She watched him walk away, a mixture of relief and regret settling in her chest. She knew she couldn’t keep avoiding her feelings forever, but for now, she needed more time to sort through them.

  Meanwhile, Izuna strolled through the bustling streets, his mind occupied with thoughts of Airi. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to her behavior than she was letting on.

  “Maybe Ren’s right,” he muttered to himself. “Maybe I am overthinking it. But still…”

  He glanced up at the evening sky, the fading sunlight casting a warm glow over the city. A small smile tugged at his lips as he resolved to be patient.

  “I’ll just have to wait until she’s ready,” he thought.

  Unbeknownst to him, Airi was also gazing at the same sky, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty and a budding hope she couldn’t quite name.

  The weekend arrived with an air of anticipation, as though the universe had aligned for something significant to unfold. Izuna decided to spend the morning at the park, hoping to clear his mind. With a coffee in hand, he sat on a bench under the shade of a cherry blossom tree, the soft pink petals falling around him.

  As he gazed at the tranquil scene, his phone buzzed with a message.

  Airi wished, “Good morning! Are you free to talk for a bit?”

  Izuna stared at the screen, surprised. Airi rarely initiated conversations, especially on weekends. He quickly typed a reply.

  Izuna replied, “Of course. Want to meet up somewhere?”

  Her response came almost immediately.

  Airi responded, “How about the park near the office?”

  Izuna’s heart leaped. That was only a short walk from where he was.

  Izuna replied, “I’m already here. See you in a few minutes.”

  Airi arrived shortly after, wearing a simple yet elegant dress that swayed lightly in the breeze. She spotted Izuna and hesitated for a moment before walking over.

  “Hey,” she greeted, her voice softer than usual.

  “Hey,” he replied, standing up to meet her. “This is a surprise. Everything okay?”

  She nodded, though her expression betrayed her nervousness. “I just… I wanted to talk about something. And I thought it’d be better to do it in person.”

  Izuna motioned for her to sit on the bench, and they settled down side by side. Airi fidgeted with the hem of her dress, struggling to find the right words.

  “Izuna,” she began, her voice trembling slightly, “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said the other day… about being there for me.”

  He turned to face her, his gaze steady and patient. “Yeah?”

  “I realized I’ve been holding back,” she admitted, her cheeks tinged with pink. “There’s so much I want to say, but I’ve been too scared to say it.”

  Izuna waited, sensing this was a moment she needed to take at her own pace.

  Finally, she took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “I think… I think I might like you, Izuna. And it terrifies me.”

  His eyes widened in surprise, but the warmth in his smile remained. “Airi…”

  “I know it’s sudden,” she rushed on, her words tumbling out, “and I don’t expect you to feel the same way, but I couldn’t keep pretending like these feelings didn’t exist.”

  Izuna reached out, gently placing a hand over hers. “Airi, thank you for telling me. Honestly, I’ve felt the same way for a while now. I just didn’t want to pressure you.”

  Her eyes glistened with relief and something deeper. “You mean it?”

  He nodded. “Absolutely. But let’s take it slow, okay? I don’t want to rush anything and risk ruining what we already have.”

  She smiled, a genuine, radiant smile that made his heart soar. “I’d like that.”

  As they walked away from the park together, the unspoken tension that had lingered between them finally dissolved, replaced by a newfound sense of connection.

  This was just the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship, one filled with possibilities and challenges they would face together.

  The rest of the day felt like a dream. After their heartfelt conversation, Izuna and Airi decided to take a stroll through the city. The streets were alive with people, but for them, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them.

  They wandered into a cozy café, where they shared stories about their childhoods over cups of coffee. Izuna couldn’t help but notice how relaxed Airi seemed now, her laughter coming more freely and her words unguarded.

  “You know,” Airi said, stirring her drink, “I never thought I’d be this comfortable talking about myself. You have this… way of making everything feel safe.”

  Izuna smiled. “That’s because I care, Airi. And I want you to feel like you can be yourself around me.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her cup, the tiniest smile playing on her lips.

  As evening approached, they found themselves on a quiet hill overlooking the city. The sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, and a cool breeze rustled the grass around them.

  “Izuna,” Airi began, her voice soft, “thank you for today. I didn’t realize how much I needed this—to just talk and be myself.”

  He turned to her, his expression serious but kind. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad we’re finally being honest with each other.”

  For a moment, they sat in silence, the city lights flickering to life in the distance. Then, almost hesitantly, Airi leaned her head on Izuna’s shoulder.

  “Let’s make a promise,” she murmured.

  “A promise?”

  She nodded. “No matter what happens, let’s always be honest with each other. No hiding, no pretending.”

  Izuna placed a hand over hers, squeezing gently. “I promise.”

  The next day at work, their colleagues couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift between the two. They were still professional, of course, but there was a warmth in their interactions that hadn’t been there before.

  Tamaki was the first to comment, pulling Izuna aside during a break. “You and Airi… something happen?”

  Izuna chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Let’s just say we’ve cleared the air between us.”

  Tamaki grinned. “About time. Honestly, the way you two danced around each other was exhausting to watch.”

  That evening, as Izuna and Airi left the office together, they paused at the entrance.

  “So,” Izuna said, “about that promise…”

  Airi tilted her head, curious. “What about it?”

  “Just wanted to say I’m glad we made it,” he said, smiling. “It feels like the start of something really good.”

  She smiled back, her eyes shining. “Me too.”

  As they walked away side by side, the night sky stretched above them, full of stars and endless possibilities.