Standing outside his door, Chiaki took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she raised her hand to knock softly. The sound echoed faintly in the quiet hallway, but there was no answer from within. After a brief pause, she hesitated, her fingers tightening around the spare key Sohei had given her. With a quiet click, she unlocked the door and stepped inside, the room enveloped in a dim, almost ethereal glow from the faint light filtering through the heavy curtains. Hayato lay on the bed, his figure still and quiet, his brows slightly furrowed in discomfort.
Seeing him like this—vulnerable and so different from his usual calm, confident self—touched something deep inside her. Quietly, she walked over to the table by the window and prepared the medicine. She poured a glass of water, her hands steady even though her emotions were anything but, then made her way to his bedside.
"Hayato," she called gently, her voice soft but firm as she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a light shake. "I brought you some medicine. Take it before going back to sleep."
Slowly, Hayato's eyes fluttered open, his gaze hazy with sleep as he blinked up at her, his expression unreadable. And then he saw her. For a brief moment, he didn't move, just staring at her as if unsure whether she was real or part of a dream.
Then, without warning, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, his movements swift but gentle. Chiaki let out a startled gasp, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest as she tried to steady herself. "Hayato!" she stammered, her face heating up at their sudden proximity, her heart racing as she felt the warmth of his body against hers. "Shh…" His voice was barely above a whisper, soft and soothing as he held her close. "Just stay like this… for a little while."
Chiaki's heart pounded wildly against her ribs, her mind a whirlwind of emotions as she tried to process what was happening. She could feel the warmth of his body seeping through his thin shirt, his steady breath tickling her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Her face burned as she realized how close they were, her mind screaming at her to pull away, but her body refused to move.
She could feel his exhaustion in the way he held her—quiet, vulnerable, and so unlike the strong, composed Hayato she knew. And in that moment, it hit her—he had spent years alone in the U.S., falling sick with no one to care for him, facing long, lonely nights. The thought made her chest tighten, a wave of sadness and empathy washing over her.
After a while, his breathing steadied, and his grip on her loosened as sleep took over. Chiaki, still wrapped in his arms, tried to shift but felt her own eyes growing heavy. The warmth of his embrace and the soft rhythm of his breathing soothed her in a way she hadn't felt in years. His familiar scent surrounded her, comforting and close.
Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep too, her head resting gently on his chest. In that quiet moment, the walls she had built around herself slipped away. And for the first time in a long while, she felt something close to peace—fragile and fleeting, but real enough to hold onto.
*****
The sharp ring of a phone broke the quiet, snapping Hayato out of sleep. His eyes slowly opened, still heavy with drowsiness, as he blinked at the dim light coming through the curtains.
Disoriented, he reached out blindly toward the sound. It wasn't his phone—it was Chiaki's, buzzing nonstop on the bedside table. The screen lit up with Sohei's name.
Still half-asleep, Hayato answered without thinking, his voice rough and low. "Sohei… Chiaki's sleeping," he muttered. "Find somewhere else to stay tonight."
He hung up without waiting for a reply and dropped the phone back on the table, his arm falling back beside him.
On the other end of the call, Sohei stared at his phone in shock, completely stunned. What just happened? He had only called Chiaki for help after a rough night out, but Hayato's sudden response left him confused and speechless.
Back in the room, Hayato shifted slightly and looked down at Chiaki, still fast asleep beside him. Her head rested on his chest, her breathing calm, and her hair spread softly across the pillow. A quiet smile formed on his lips as he watched her, his heart full of a feeling he couldn't quite name.
Carefully, so he wouldn't wake her, he reached for the glass of water on the bedside table and took the medicine she'd prepared. His headache lingered, but her presence made it easier to bear.
He paused for a moment, eyes lingering on her peaceful face. Then, without thinking, he leaned in and gently kissed her forehead, his lips brushing her skin softly.
"Goodnight, Chiaki," he whispered, before closing his eyes and falling asleep again.
The next morning, Chiaki slowly woke up, feeling unusually warm and comfortable. As she became more aware, she noticed a steady thump beneath her ear—a heartbeat.
Her eyes flew open, and she froze. She was in Hayato's arms, her face just inches from his. He was still asleep, his expression calm, long lashes casting soft shadows on his face.
Her heart raced. What…? Panic bubbled inside her as memories of the night before rushed back—staying by his side, falling asleep in his arms.
I fell asleep?! Here?! Her face turned red as she carefully pulled herself away, moving slowly to avoid waking him. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on the empty glass and medicine packet on the table. She was relieved that Hayato had eaten the medicine she brought.
Flustered, Chiaki grabbed her phone and saw several missed calls from Sohei and Hana. She bit her lip and tried calling them back, but neither picked up. She glanced at Hayato, still asleep, and hesitated.
I need to leave before he wakes up, she thought, her heart racing. I can't face him after… whatever last night was.
Quietly, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the door, careful not to make a sound. When she got back to her own room, she froze.
Sohei was stretched out on one bed, snoring softly, while Hana was curled up on the other, face buried in a pillow. Chiaki quickly realized what must've happened.
Sohei had nowhere else to stay because of me, she thought, guilt sinking in.
Still overwhelmed by everything, she grabbed her toiletries and went into the bathroom to freshen up, her mind spinning from the night before.
When Chiaki came out of the bathroom, Sohei was already awake, rubbing his eyes. "Sohei, I'm really sorry about last night," she said quickly, her voice laced with guilt. "I didn't mean to fall asleep—"
Sohei waved it off with a sleepy grin. "Don't worry about it. Hana let me crash here. But note to self—never share a room with my brother again."
Chiaki let out a nervous laugh, cheeks still warm, and handed him Hayato's room key. As he slipped it into his pocket, his expression turned unusually serious.
"Thanks for taking care of him," he said quietly.
Chiaki shook her head. "I didn't do much."
Sohei looked at her, his voice steady. "You don't know how much your presence means to him."
Chiaki frowned, her chest tightening. "What do you mean?"
Sohei paused, choosing his words. "Chiaki… you've always been the most important person to Hayato. Since you were kids."
Her heart skipped. She looked away. "That was a long time ago. Things are different now."
"So what?" Sohei replied, firm. "Not everything changes just because time passes."
She felt a wave of emotion rising, hard to ignore. "What are you trying to say?"
"I've seen how you've been living all these years," Sohei said gently. "Now that he's back… don't waste this. You'll regret it if you do."
Chiaki lowered her head, her thoughts a mess. Regrets... The word echoed in her mind, stirring emotions she thought she'd buried. Sohei's rare seriousness unsettled her. "Think about it," he'd said before leaving, the door clicking shut behind him.
The moment he left, Hana sat up, her eyes full of curiosity. "Chiaki, you have a lot to explain," she teased, though there was concern in her voice.
Chiaki let out a sigh and sat beside her. "I'm sorry, Hana," she whispered. To her surprise, tears filled her eyes and spilled over before she could stop them. She had hidden her feelings for so long, pretending everything was fine. But last night—Hayato's embrace, Sohei's words—it all reminded her of one thing: she had never truly let Hayato go.
Hana gently took her hand, her voice soft. "Chiaki… Sohei's right. Hayato is back. This is your chance."
Chiaki bit her lip. "But he's engaged, Hana."
Hana crossed her arms. "He's not married yet. You still have time to tell him how you feel. Take the chance."
Chiaki sniffled and gave a small smile as she wiped her tears. "Alright, enough about me. What about you and Sohei? How did last night go?"
Hana lit up instantly. "Thank you for setting that up! We had such a good talk—he's amazing! I can't believe he's still single!"
Chiaki laughed, a little shaky but real. "Maybe he's just waiting for the right girl."
Hana grinned. "Let's hope he's not secretly gay. That would be such a waste."
Chiaki burst into laughter, finally feeling a bit lighter.
For now, she'd let herself rest. But Sohei's words stayed with her. Deep down, she knew she had a choice to make—one she couldn't avoid much longer.