After their honest conversation, Chiaki felt a weight lift from her chest. The tension that used to make every moment with Hayato at work feel uncomfortable had eased. Now, they could talk without hesitation, and she no longer avoided looking at him. Still, she kept a careful distance, guarding her emotions. This, she told herself, was enough—being able to work with him peacefully was progress. But deep down, a quiet ache lingered, reminding her that some wounds don't fully disappear.
One evening, the team stayed late to finish the product designs for an important presentation. The office buzzed with quiet energy—the clicking of keyboards, the rustle of paper, the soft murmur of discussion. Chiaki was deep in concentration, adjusting colors on her screen, when the door opened unexpectedly.
To everyone's surprise, Karina stepped in holding several bags of takeout. The room fell silent for a moment. Dressed flawlessly and exuding confidence, she smiled at the group and said cheerfully, "I thought you all might need a dinner break."
Elena's eyes widened the moment she recognized Karina—rumored to be Hayato's fiancée. She'd heard about her, but seeing Karina in person was different. Elegant and composed, Karina carried herself with quiet confidence. "So, that's Karina…" Elena muttered under her breath, watching closely as Karina approached Hayato with a smile and handed him a container of food. Hayato accepted it with a polite nod, his face unreadable.
Elena's gaze shifted to Chiaki. Though her expression was calm, the tension in her shoulders and the tight grip on her pen revealed her discomfort. She glanced at Hayato and Karina briefly before quickly focusing on her work again.
As the team gathered to unpack the food, the atmosphere buzzed with a strange mix of gratitude and unease. Then, without warning, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. Gasps filled the air, followed by a sharp scream—Karina's voice cutting through the silence. A thud echoed in the dark.
When the lights flickered back on, everyone froze. Karina was now sitting on Hayato's lap, arms tightly wrapped around his neck, as if she had leapt onto him in fear. The room erupted in stunned murmurs, the unexpected scene catching everyone off guard.
Chiaki's breath caught as she saw Karina on Hayato's lap, her chest tightening with emotions she couldn't fully name. She quickly looked away, her heart pounding as she tried to keep her face calm. But when Hayato's eyes met hers, it felt like he could see through her, as if he was silently asking what she was thinking.
"I'll get something to clean up the mess," Chiaki said suddenly, her voice steady but rushed. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out quickly.
Most of the food had spilled during the chaos, and the room felt too stifling to stay in. As she hurried down the hallway, her mind kept replaying the image of Karina in Hayato's arms. She told herself it didn't mean anything, that she had no reason to feel this way—but the ache in her chest said otherwise. Reaching the supply closet, she paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Pull it together, she told herself firmly.
She needed to get used to seeing Hayato with other women, especially Karina.
Chiaki took a steadying breath and grabbed a broom and cloth from the supply closet, her fingers still trembling. She leaned against the doorframe for a moment, trying to calm herself. The image of Karina wrapped around Hayato and the way he had looked at her afterward wouldn't leave her mind. Focus, she told herself. Just clean up the food mess and don't let this get to you.
But just as she turned to go, the door opened—and there stood Hayato.
"Hayato?" she said, startled, her voice quiet and uneasy. She hadn't expected him to come after her, and the look in his eyes made her feel completely exposed.
He stepped in and gently shut the door behind him, his gaze locked on hers. The space suddenly felt too small, heavy with tension. He could see right through her—her confusion, the pain she tried to hide.
"That was a misunderstanding," he said, his voice low. "I didn't expect Karina to do that. When the lights went out, she lost her balance. I didn't even have time to react."
Chiaki blinked, surprised by his explanation but quickly composed herself. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice a little sharper than intended. "Isn't she your fiancée?"
Hayato's jaw tensed at her words, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. Without saying anything, he stepped forward and gently pulled her toward him. Chiaki gasped as her back hit the door, the broom and cloth slipping from her hands and landing on the floor with a thud. His nearness made her breath hitch, the warmth of his body closing in around her. One hand settled on her waist, steadying her, while the other touched her cheek, his thumb lightly brushing her skin. His gaze locked with hers, full of emotion and intent—then, slowly, he leaned in and kissed her. It was soft but deep, a kiss that spoke of all the feelings left unspoken between them
Chiaki's breath caught as his lips touched hers, everything else fading away. The kiss started soft, hesitant, but quickly grew deeper as Hayato poured years of unspoken feelings into it—his regret, his longing, his love. Chiaki's shock slowly dissolved. She closed her eyes and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, kissing him back. Her response was uncertain at first, but soon it turned tender and sure, matching the emotion he gave her. Their bodies pressed closer, their breathing quickened, and for that brief moment, nothing else existed but the two of them.
When they finally pulled away, Hayato rested his forehead against hers, his breath brushing softly against her skin. His gaze held hers, full of warmth and intensity. "You know," he murmured, voice low and rough, "I've wanted to kiss you like that for years." Chiaki's cheeks flushed, and she looked down, trying to steady her thoughts. Hayato smiled at her reaction, gently brushing her cheek before placing a soft kiss on her forehead—a touch so familiar it made her chest tighten.
"Come to my place tonight," he said, his voice calm but serious as he took her hands. "Let's talk—about Karina, about everything. There's so much I've been holding back." Chiaki hesitated, torn between fear and the hope flickering in his eyes. But after a moment, she nodded, her voice quiet. "Okay." Hayato's face lit up with a mix of relief and something tender.
Upstairs in the office, Karina pulled Elena aside after spotting Hayato walking away, obviously looking for Chiaki. The way his eyes lingered on Chiaki unsettled her. "Who is that woman?" Karina asked, her voice laced with irritation.
Elena smirked, folding her arms. "That's Chiaki," she said with a hint of amusement. "I've seen her getting out of Mr. Katagiri's car in the mornings. During our work trip, I even saw her go into his room at night."
Karina's expression darkened, jaw tightening. "So she's the one," she muttered bitterly. Elena gave a quiet laugh. "You should've seen his face around her. That's not how someone looks at a subordinate or friend."
Karina forced a smile, hiding her growing frustration. "We'll see," she said coolly.
Later, after the team finished tidying up and began heading home, Chiaki followed Hayato to the parking lot, her heart pounding as she stepped into his car. From a distance, Karina watched them. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed Hayato holding Chiaki's hand—so naturally, so possessively. The sight stirred a fierce jealousy inside her, and her mind suddenly recalled a photo she once saw back in the U.S.—a photo of Chiaki that Hayato had kept all those years in his wallet.
"Hayato," Karina called out sharply.
Startled, Chiaki quickly pulled her hand away, blushing. But Hayato didn't flinch. Instead, he held onto her hand even tighter and responded coldly, "Karina, I have something to take care of." Without waiting for a reply, he led Chiaki to his car and didn't look back.
"Hayato, maybe we can talk another day," Chiaki said softly, her voice tinged with guilt as she glanced back at Karina, who stood frozen in place, her expression a mix of anger and hurt.
"You don't need to worry about her," Hayato replied gently, his voice firm but reassuring as he opened the car door for Chiaki. She hesitated for a moment before sliding into the passenger seat, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
As they drove away, Karina's eyes followed them, her fists clenched at her sides. She had always known there was someone from Hayato's past, someone he had never fully let go of, but seeing Chiaki in person—seeing the way Hayato looked at her—was a blow she hadn't been prepared for.
At Hayato's home, the mood was quiet but filled with unspoken tension. To make up for the office dinner that was ruined, Hayato offered to cook, and Chiaki sat at the kitchen counter watching him work. His movements were calm and practiced, reminding her of their younger days when things were simpler. She never thought life would bring them back together like this—older, changed, and full of unresolved feelings.
As he chopped vegetables, Chiaki couldn't stop wondering if he still felt the same about her. But the thought of Karina lingered in her mind, making her heart uneasy.
She knew tonight would bring answers. She needed to hear the truth from Hayato—how he felt now and what Karina really meant to him.