"And now, we're back! Welcome, everyone, to a special edition of Ink & Insight Live! Today, we have two phenomenal writers! Give a warm welcome to Ms. Midnight and Moonlight Sonata!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the live audience as Ayaka and Makoto stepped onto the sleek stage, the dazzling lights catching the soft shimmer of Ayaka's dress and the subtle sheen of Makoto's tailored suit.
They both smiled and waved politely, though the air between them crackled with something far more complicated than camaraderie.
It had been three years since their first joint appearance — three long years filled with rumors, fan speculation, and heated debates online.
And now, standing side by side again, the tension between them was impossible to ignore.
Cameras zoomed in.
Social media hashtags were already exploding.
The host leaned forward with a knowing grin, eyes glittering with mischief. "It's been three years, and I must say, the two of you have gotten much closer. The chemistry—fans can't stop talking about it."
Ayaka kept her smile composed, her fingers neatly folded over her lap, while Makoto chuckled lightly, though his green eyes flicked to her, betraying a flicker of unease.
The host continued without mercy. "So tell me… Where's the collaboration we've all been dying to read? Seriously, the fans are screaming for it. Every Q&A, every post, every thread—they're obsessed. You two teased something before, and yet… nothing has come out. What gives?"
The studio fell into a hush.
The silence was deafening. Even the audience leaned forward, breath held, waiting.
Neither of them spoke at first.
Ayaka's eyes dropped to her lap for a heartbeat, then she raised her head, gaze clear and resolute.
"There's no collaboration." she said, her voice calm but firm. "We never finalized anything. We talked, once, but it never went beyond that."
A soft murmur rippled through the crowd.
Makoto, who had been watching her carefully, straightened in his seat.
His tone was steady, but something sharp simmered beneath it. "We're just friends." he said, turning slightly to face the audience. "That's all."
The murmur deepened into whispers.
A few gasps slipped through.
The host blinked, caught off guard for a moment by the clarity—and finality—of their answers.
But professionalism prevailed.
The host recovered quickly, laughing lightly. "Well, there you have it! I suppose the mystery's part of the magic, huh?"
From there, the rest of the interview continued smoothly, though the shift in energy was palpable.
Ayaka and Makoto handled the questions gracefully—Makoto charming with his eloquence, Ayaka poised with her wit—but the earlier moment hung over them like a shadow, visible only to those who knew what to look for.
------
Later, in the car.
The ride was cloaked in silence.
The kind of silence that wasn't awkward—but loaded.
The kind that hummed with all the things left unsaid.
Makoto sat beside Ayaka in the backseat, his gaze fixed on the blurred scenery passing outside the window.
His jaw tightened once—then relaxed.
Then again.
He wanted to ask.
He wanted to ask why Akihiko had been at her apartment that night.
Why she had looked so unguarded with him.
Why lately—despite the interviews, the public attention, and everything else—she seemed… lighter.
As though something she'd been holding onto for so long had finally been set down.
But he didn't ask.
He couldn't.
Just as he opened his mouth, she beat him to it.
"Makoto." Ayaka said, voice low but clear, "I'll be going back to the publishing house."
Makoto blinked, turning toward her. "Is that so?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual. "Then I'll wa—"
"No need!" she interrupted quickly. "It might take a while to finish my work. I'll ask Kai or Kei to pick me up."
She smiled—soft, apologetic—but there was a subtle finality in it.
A boundary.
One she had started rebuilding, brick by silent brick.
Makoto's fingers curled slightly against his knee. "But… I need to talk to you about something it's really important..." He said, more serious now.
Ayaka hesitated.
For a moment, she looked out the window, as if weighing something.
Then, with a quiet sigh, she turned back to him.
"Fine..." she said, offering a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "After."
Makoto nodded, lips parting as if to say more—but no words came.
He simply leaned back in his seat, the silence returning between them like a tide.
------
Meanwhile, back at Tokyo Medical Center…
The familiar sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air as doctors and nurses moved briskly through the pristine white corridors.
Amid the soft beeping of monitors and the hum of medical equipment, Kei Yamamoto stood near the surgical board, his white coat fluttering slightly as a draft passed through the corridor.
With a proud smile, Kei clapped a hand on Akihiko's shoulder.
"I knew you could do it." he said, eyes gleaming. "Especially Dr. Sato—he never goes easy on applicants. But he was impressed. I heard it straight from him."
Akihiko gave a polite bow, his expression unreadable but respectful. "Thank you, Dr. Yamamoto. I appreciate the support."
Kei grinned. "Welcome back to the Surgery Department, Akihiko."
The silver-haired doctor straightened. "Thank you for taking me back. I won't waste this opportunity—I'll give it everything I've got."
He bowed again, deeper this time.
But Kei waved a hand, chuckling. "Hold up—I should probably mention... you're not under me anymore."
Akihiko blinked. "What do you mean by that, doctor?"
"You're a senior surgeon now." Kei said, crossing his arms with a teasing grin.
"Which means—congratulations—you're on your own. You'll be handling surgeries independently from now on."
A flicker of surprise passed over Akihiko's usually calm features, quickly replaced with a determined nod. "Thank you for trusting me. I won't let you down."
"Glad to hear it. So, when do you want to start?"
"I'm ready whenever the schedule allows." Akihiko replied. "When's my first shift?"
Kei gave a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his head. "Well… about that. You start today."
Akihiko blinked. "...Huh?"
"You see…" Kei laughed nervously, rocking slightly on his heels. "The surgeon who was supposed to perform a wound debridement this afternoon? They had a family emergency. Pulled out last minute. And well—"
Akihiko narrowed his eyes, realizing why Kei asked him to apply today. "So that's why you dragged me here the moment I passed the interview. No wonder why..."
"Come on, we're short-staffed today!" Kei said in a pleading tone, hands clasped together in mock desperation.
"Just this one! I'll owe you big time—dinner, drinks, a foot massage—whatever you want. And I already cleared it with the patient and the family. They knew the situation and agreed to the switch. All you need to do is go in, introduce yourself, and explain the procedure."
Akihiko let out a long breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You're unbelievable."
"But resourceful." Kei grinned.
After a tense pause, Akihiko sighed. "Fine."
Kei beamed like a child given candy. "You're the best!"
Later, in the surgery prep room…
Kei was meticulously laying out surgical instruments on a sterile tray, humming to himself as he checked each piece with the precision of a seasoned pro.
The gleam of stainless steel reflected off the overhead lights, and the atmosphere in the room buzzed with quiet anticipation.
A couple of nurses walked past the entrance, slowing as they noticed something… odd.
"Is that… Dr. Yamamoto?" one of them whispered, wide-eyed.
"Is he actually… preparing the surgical instruments himself?" another nurse whispered, incredulous.
"Our department head is setting up trays? What parallel universe did we step into?"
A vein pulsed visibly on Kei's temple as he continued lining up the scalpels.
'Even if you whisper, I can still hear you...' Kei thought, forcing a calm expression as he adjusted the forceps with a steady hand.
Just then, another nurse stepped in, holding a clipboard and looking unusually animated.
"Did you hear the news? Dr. Nakamura is back!" She whispered excitedly to the others. "And get this—Dr. Yamamoto begged him to do the wound debridement today because Dr. Ishihara had an emergency."
The group of nurses gasped.
"No wonder he's doing the prep himself!" one of them giggled. "Dr. Nakamura's first day and he's already being thrown into the operating room. Poor guy."
"But also, kind of iconic."
Soft laughter broke out among the group as they leaned into their gossip.
Kei slowly turned his head, eyes narrowed with the stern patience of a teacher who had just run out of grace. "Would you like to prepare the instruments instead?"
The nurses immediately straightened.
"Ah—n-no sir! Please, go ahead! We wouldn't dream of interrupting!" they said quickly, bowing as they backed away, still stifling giggles as they disappeared down the corridor.
Kei rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Children... A lot of them."
Still, a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
After a moment, he paused, gazing at the neatly arranged surgical tools.
"Good to have you back, Akihiko..." he said quietly to himself.