Rin didn't knock.
He stood outside Yuna's door, hoodie on, mask tugged under his chin. He didn't look like a superstar. Just a boy who needed a place to fall apart quietly.
She opened the door like she expected him.
She didn't ask questions.
Ten minutes later, he sat on her couch in silence. No lights on. Just the glow from the city bleeding through the giant windows.
Yuna brought him a glass of water.
He didn't speak until she sat beside him.
"They're eating me alive," he whispered.
She didn't ask who. She already knew.
The media had gone into a frenzy that week. Some reporter had snapped a photo of Rin—exhausted, frowning—walking out of rehearsal. They'd called him "ungrateful." "Rude." "Too big for his own image."
The comments were brutal. "Fake." "Overrated." "He's changed."
"It's my fault," he said quietly. "I stopped smiling in front of the cameras. Just for a second. Just for me."
Yuna's voice was soft.
"You're allowed to be tired."
He turned his head, eyes barely visible in the dark.
"Then why does it feel like I'm not allowed to be human?"
Silence.
Then she reached up and gently touched his hair.
Just the crown of his head.
And he leaned in—slowly—until his head was resting against her shoulder.
No words.
No breathing too loud.
Just his hand brushing against hers like he was asking permission.
She didn't pull away.
He let out the softest sound. Like something had cracked open inside him, and it didn't hurt as much now.
"You're warm," he said, barely audible.
She didn't answer.
She just let her hand trail through his hair, slow and quiet.
He tilted his face up after a moment. Still leaning against her. Still not really looking.
And when she turned slightly to check on him—
—he kissed her.
Soft. Barely there. Like a question more than a statement.
Then pulled back.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "That was—"
"Don't apologize."
Her voice wasn't cold this time.
Just… low. Careful.
Like she was saying, you're not the only one who's tired of pretending.
He leaned back in. This time, he didn't ask.
And this time, she kissed him back.
The moonlight wrapped around them like it was protecting a secret.
And for the first time in a long time, neither of them felt alone.