Hana wasn't running away from Sohei. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. She was just… keeping her distance. Ever since their conversation in the breakroom, Hana had been feeling too much, too quickly. His words, the way he looked at her like she was the only one in the room—it overwhelmed her. She had spent so long quietly admiring him, believing he'd never feel the same. Now that something seemed to have changed, she didn't know how to handle it.
She should be happy—she'd liked him for so long. But instead of joy, she felt panic. Her stomach twisted every time she thought about what this might mean. So, she avoided him.
She took different routes around the office, skipped coffee runs, avoided lunch breaks, and stayed late just to dodge elevator rides with him. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him—she was just scared of how she'd act if she did. His words, his voice, his eyes—thinking about it made her heart race and her mind spiral. What if she said something wrong? What if he changed his mind?
But Sohei noticed. By day three, he knew something was off. At first, he told himself she was just busy. But when he saw her flinch and rush out of the pantry the moment he walked in, he couldn't ignore it anymore.
His jaw tightened as he watched her leave, frustration rising. He wasn't used to this—feeling this unsure, this wound up, this desperate just to be near someone. And the worst part? He had no idea how to fix it.
By lunchtime, Sohei was fuming. His mood had only gotten worse as the hours passed. Across the desk, Chiaki noticed and smirked. "She's avoiding you, huh?" she said casually, though her eyes were sharp.
Sohei didn't look up from his laptop. "No idea what you're talking about," he muttered, tapping his keyboard a little too hard.
"Sure," Chiaki replied with a sarcastic lilt.
With a frustrated sigh, Sohei ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't shake the restlessness. He had opened up to Hana—been more honest than he usually was with anyone. And now she was avoiding him like he'd done something wrong.
It didn't add up. He had hoped she felt the same way, that they could figure it out together. But instead, she was pulling away.
As the day dragged on, Sohei found himself glancing at her desk more often than he cared to admit, his eyes lingering on the empty chair as he tried to focus on his work. But his mind kept drifting back to her, to the way she had looked at him in the breakroom, to the way her cheeks had flushed when he admitted he liked her. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had messed something up, that he had pushed her too far, too fast.
*****
That evening, Hana stayed late at the office, determined to finish a report that had been hanging over her for weeks. By the time she shut down her computer and packed up, the sky was dark and the city was glowing under streetlights. A light drizzle had started, gentle and calming, with the fresh scent of rain in the air.
She paused at the building's entrance, pulled out her phone to call a cab, her mind still caught up in everything that had happened that day.
"Hana."
The sound of her name made her turn, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Shun standing a few feet away, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. "Oh! Shun?" she replied, her voice tinged with both curiosity and hesitation.
"I'm heading home too," he said, offering a small, tentative smile. "Let's wait for the ride together."
Hana hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. She hadn't expected to see him here, and his presence stirred a mix of emotions she wasn't ready to confront. But after a brief pause, she nodded. "Sure."
They stood in silence, rain softly tapping the ground between them. Shun shifted, his fingers twitching like he was working up the nerve. Then, finally, he spoke—his voice calm but unsure.
"Hana," he said, looking at her, "I meant what I said. I really like you. I'm not trying to pressure you, but if even a part of you feels the same… I'd like to give it a chance."
Hana's breath hitched. Her heart pounded—not with excitement, but with guilt. Because deep down, she already knew. Her heart belonged to someone else—and it wasn't Shun.
She opened her mouth to respond, but headlights cut through the rain as a car pulled up nearby. The moment shattered. She turned, her body tensing the second she saw who was inside.
Sohei.
He sat in the driver's seat, eyes locked on her with an intensity that made Hana's stomach twist. His face was hard to read, but the way his hands gripped the steering wheel said enough—he was upset.
The rain began falling harder, soaking her coat and hair as she stood frozen. She didn't need words to know what he was feeling.
Before she could respond to Shun, the sharp sound of a car door slamming cut through the air. Sohei was already walking toward them, every step steady and focused, his gaze fixed on her.
He didn't say a word as he reached her, taking her wrist gently but firmly—his touch sparking something deep inside her.
"You're coming with me," he said, his voice low and unwavering, leaving no room for argument.
Hana blinked in shock, her mind struggling to process what was happening. "Wait—Sohei—"
Shun stepped forward, his expression guarded but his voice calm. "Hana and I were talking—"
Sohei didn't even glance at him, his focus entirely on Hana. "And now she's leaving." His fingers tightened slightly around her wrist, not enough to hurt but enough to make her heart race. "Come on."
Hana hesitated, glancing between Sohei and Shun, the tension heavy in the air. But deep down, she understood—this was Sohei asking for an answer without words, not letting her run.
And maybe… she didn't want to run anymore.
Without saying anything, she let him take her to his car. The rain poured harder, drenching them as they walked, side by side.
The car ride was quiet, the tension between them thick. Rain tapped steadily on the windshield, and streetlights cast soft flickers across Sohei's face. His jaw was tight, his hands gripping the wheel like he was holding back words he didn't know how to say.
Hana sat beside him, her thoughts spinning—torn between guilt over Shun's confession and the pull she felt toward Sohei. Outside, the city blurred past, the silence and rain wrapping around them like a bubble of unspoken feelings.
When they finally reached her apartment, the rain had eased into a steady rhythm, tapping softly on the windows. As Sohei parked, Hana found her voice at last.
"Sohei… you didn't have to do that," she said quietly, unsure if she meant how he pulled her away—or how intense it all felt. But the words came out anyway.
Sohei parked but didn't speak right away. Instead, he turned to her, his gaze steady, as if trying to read what she couldn't say. The soft glow of the streetlamp filtered through the rain, casting faint shadows on his face.
"Do you like Shun?" he asked quietly. His voice was calm, but there was something beneath it that made Hana's stomach twist.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again, her cheeks flushing. Looking down at her hands in her lap, she finally whispered, "…No." It was the truth—and saying it out loud felt like letting go of a weight she didn't know she carried.
Sohei let out a quiet breath, his shoulders easing slightly. "Good," he said simply. The word was soft, but sure.
Rain filled the silence. Hana hesitated, hand hovering over the door handle. She glanced at him, noticing how his shirt clung damply to his skin.
"You should… come inside and dry off," she said gently. "You'll catch a cold like that."
Sohei's brows lifted slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he nodded. "Alright," he agreed, his tone neutral but his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary.
Inside her apartment, the atmosphere felt different—charged, yet strangely comforting. The space was small but cozy, filled with the warm glow of a single lamp and the faint, sweet scent of vanilla from a candle she had left burning earlier. Hana moved quickly, trying to distract herself from the nervous flutter in her chest as she grabbed a towel from the linen closet. She handed it to him, her fingers brushing against his briefly, sending a jolt of warmth through her. "Here," she said, her voice slightly breathless as she averted her gaze, trying to ignore the way her heart stuttered when he ran a hand through his rain-dampened hair, making it look effortlessly tousled.
"Thanks," he murmured, his voice low and calm as he took the towel from her. He dabbed at his face first, the motion slow and deliberate, before rubbing the towel over his hair. The sight was oddly intimate, and Hana felt a strange ache in her chest, as if she were seeing a side of him that wasn't meant for the office or the polished facade he usually wore.
As he shrugged off his damp jacket and hung it over the back of a chair, Hana busied herself with making tea, the familiar routine helping to ground her. But even as she moved around the kitchen, she could feel his presence filling the room, a quiet intensity that made it hard to breathe.
"Hana."
She stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. "…Yeah?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile tension between them.
He took a step closer, the warmth of his presence wrapping around her like a blanket, both comforting and overwhelming. "Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with an intensity that made her heart race.
Hana swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the hem of her sweater. "I wasn't—" she started, but the words felt hollow even as they left her lips.
Sohei let out a soft scoff, cutting her off. "Don't lie to me," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. There was a rawness in his tone, a vulnerability that made her chest ache.
She bit her lip, her face heating up as she struggled to find the right words. "I wasn't avoiding you," she finally admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I just… I needed time to think."
Sohei exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair again in a gesture that was both frustrated and endearing. "Think about what?" he pressed, his dark eyes searching hers, as if trying to see past the walls she had built around herself.
"About… us," she confessed, her voice barely audible. "About what you said. About how I feel."
For a moment, Sohei didn't say anything. He just watched her, his expression unreadable, the silence stretching between them like a thread pulled taut. Then, without warning, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist before settling against her palm. His touch was gentle but deliberate, sending a shiver up her spine.
"You're thinking too much again," he murmured, his voice softer now, almost tender. "Hana, you don't have to figure everything out right now."
Hana's breath hitched as she felt his thumb lightly trace against her skin. It was the smallest touch, yet it sent warmth rushing through her, making her pulse quicken. She wanted to pull away, to put some distance between them, but she couldn't bring herself to move.
"But I need to know one thing," Sohei continued, stepping just a little closer, close enough that she could feel his warmth even through the dampness of his clothes. His voice was low, steady, but there was an edge to it—a quiet desperation that made her heart ache. "Do you want me to stop?"
Hana's face burned, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. "Stop what?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, though she already knew the answer.
Sohei tilted his head, his lips curling slightly into a faint, teasing smile, though his eyes remained serious. "Stop looking at you like this," he said, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Stop getting jealous when someone else is too close to you. Stop wanting to be the only one who makes you smile."
Hana's entire body felt like it was on fire. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out—because the truth was, she didn't want him to stop. Not at all. The realization hit her like a wave, leaving her breathless and exposed.
Seeing her silence, Sohei let out a soft chuckle, the sound warm and low. "You're blushing," he noted, his voice tinged with amusement, though his gaze remained intense, unwavering.
Hana groaned, covering her face with her hands in a futile attempt to hide her embarrassment. "I hate you," she muttered, though there was no real heat behind the words.
"No, you don't," he replied, his voice gentle but firm. His fingers gently pried her hands away from her face, his touch lingering against hers. "If you did, you wouldn't be letting me do this."
Hana's breath stuttered, her entire body frozen as she realized how close he was—how dangerously close. His presence was overwhelming, his gaze piercing, and yet she couldn't bring herself to pull away. The air between them felt charged, electric, as if the entire world had narrowed down to this single moment.
And this time, she didn't pull away.
The air between them felt heavier, charged with something unspoken yet impossible to ignore. Hana's breath caught as she felt Sohei's fingers tighten slightly around hers, his thumb idly tracing small, slow circles against the inside of her wrist. It was such a simple gesture, yet it sent shivers up her spine, making her painfully aware of just how close he was.
"Hana," Sohei murmured, his voice lower now, more deliberate. "Look at me."
She hesitated, her heart hammering against her ribs. If she met his gaze, she knew she wouldn't be able to pretend anymore—wouldn't be able to keep convincing herself that nothing had changed.
But Sohei wasn't going to let her run this time.
Slowly, hesitantly, she lifted her gaze to meet his, and the moment their eyes locked, she felt herself sink into the warmth of it. His dark eyes weren't teasing now; they weren't full of the usual playful smugness he carried so effortlessly. Instead, they were steady, searching—pulling her in, making her feel like she was standing on the edge of something she wasn't sure she was ready for.
"You're still running," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
Hana's breath hitched, her fingers instinctively curling around the fabric of her sweater. "I'm not—"
"You are." Sohei exhaled, his fingers brushing over her knuckles before gently prying them apart, uncurling her fist. "And it's driving me crazy."
Her face burned. "I—I just…" She struggled to find the words, but nothing she came up with felt like the right thing to say. Because the truth was, she didn't know how to put it into words—the confusion, the warmth, the overwhelming rush of emotions every time he was near.
Sohei's grip on her hand tightened, not enough to hurt, but just enough to ground her. "I don't want to push you," he murmured. "But I need you to be honest with me, Hana. Do you want me to stop?"
Hana swallowed hard, her entire body reacting before her mind could catch up. She knew what he was asking—not just about this moment, but everything that had been shifting between them.
And she knew her answer.
"…No," she whispered.
Sohei's breath hitched, and for the first time, his carefully maintained composure faltered. His fingers brushed against her wrist, the touch deliberate, lingering. "…No?" he echoed, almost as if he needed to hear it again.
Hana hesitated, but then, gathering every bit of courage she had left, she shook her head. "I don't want you to stop."
A slow, almost disbelieving smile touched Sohei's lips, and before Hana could process what was happening, he took another step closer, his presence wrapping around her like something tangible, something she could drown in. "Good," he murmured, his voice a little rougher now. "Because I wasn't planning to."
Hana barely had a second to process that before Sohei reached up, his fingers brushing against her cheek in a touch so light it made her shiver. The heat of his palm sent warmth coursing through her, his thumb grazing just beneath her ear as if memorizing the shape of her face.
Her breath stuttered, her hands gripping the fabric of his damp shirt as if it was the only thing keeping her upright. Sohei didn't pull away, didn't break eye contact. He was giving her time—waiting, searching for any hesitation.
But she didn't pull away either.
The space between them was barely there now, the steady thrum of her heartbeat loud in her ears as she felt Sohei's breath ghost over her lips, warm and inviting. It wasn't just the fact that he was close—it was the way he was looking at her, like she was something precious, something fragile yet untouchable all at once.
Hana's chest tightened, her pulse fluttering erratically as her fingers curled into his shirt, anchoring herself to something solid. The rain outside had slowed, the quiet rhythm of the droplets fading into the background, leaving only them—just the two of them, standing on the precipice of something neither of them could take back.
Then, just when she thought he might close the last bit of distance between them, Sohei exhaled sharply, his forehead gently resting against hers. His fingers curled slightly against her jaw, his voice quieter than ever when he finally spoke.
"Hana…" he murmured. "Tell me I'm not the only one feeling this."
Hana swallowed, her cheeks burning, but she didn't move away.
"You're not," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Sohei let out a shaky breath, and for the first time since she had met him, he looked… undone.
And then, finally—finally—he smiled. Not his usual smirk, not the teasing grin he used when he wanted to fluster her, but something softer, something real.
"Good," he murmured again, his thumb tracing one last gentle line against her cheek before he finally—reluctantly—took a step back.
Hana almost whimpered at the loss of warmth, but she couldn't even bring herself to be embarrassed about it. Because the moment Sohei pulled away, the weight of what had just happened—of what had just changed between them—settled deep in her chest.
Sohei let out a breath, rolling his shoulders slightly before raking a hand through his still-damp hair. "You should change into something warm," he murmured, his voice still laced with something unsteady. "I'll head out soon."
Hana blinked, her heart still struggling to return to a normal rhythm. "You—you can stay a little longer," she said before she could stop herself.
Sohei stilled, his eyes flickering with something unreadable before he gave her a slow, knowing smile. "Hana."
She swallowed. "What?"
His smirk returned, just a little. "You're not blushing because of the cold, are you?"
Hana gasped, smacking his arm. "You—!"
Sohei chuckled, his laugh easing the tension between them just a little.