The ride back was quiet. Hana sat with her hands folded in her lap, her gaze focused on the blur of lights beyond the window. Sohei glanced at her now and then, sensing something shifting in her.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
She nodded at first, then hesitated. "Can I say something kind of embarrassing?"
He offered a small smile. "You can say anything."
Hana turned slightly toward him, her voice soft. "I used to think true love only happened in dramas. The kind where everything magically falls into place. I never thought it was real—not for people like me."
Sohei's smile faded as she continued.
"I've had crushes. Lots, actually. But they were always one-sided. I got used to that. It felt safer, knowing it would never go anywhere. So when you… when you actually liked me back, I didn't know how to handle it. I kept thinking, 'This can't be real.' Because guys like you don't look at girls like me."
Her voice caught a little at the end, and she looked away, embarrassed. "I'm sorry I tried to run. I wasn't pushing you away because I didn't care. I just… didn't know how to believe it."
Sohei didn't say anything at first. The ache in his chest said enough.
As they pulled up to her apartment, he parked the car slowly and cut the engine. Then he turned to face her fully, his voice steady and low.
"You really think I'm that kind of guy?" he asked, hurt flickering beneath his calm tone. "The type who only goes for someone perfect?"
She opened her mouth, but he gently reached over, taking her hand in his. "Hana, I noticed you from the beginning. The way you care about your work. The way you laugh when you're tired. The way you try to hide how kind you are like it's something to be ashamed of."
He stepped out of the car and came around to her side, opening her door. When she stood, he kept her hand in his.
"I'm walking you up," he said.
"You really don't have to—"
"I want to."
The elevator ride up to Hana's floor was charged with a quiet tension. Sohei stood close—too close—his arm brushing hers as the numbers climbed. She could smell the faint spice of his cologne.
"You really didn't have to walk me up," Hana murmured again.
Sohei smirked, leaning one shoulder against the wall beside her door. "And miss the best part of the night?" His voice was a low rumble, the kind that slid under her skin.
She rolled her eyes. "The best part? You're that eager to get rid of me?"
He pushed off the wall in one smooth motion, crowding her against the door before she could react. His palm flattened beside her head, caging her in. "You know exactly what I mean," he said, his breath warm against her lips.
Hana's back hit the door with a soft thud, her keys digging into her palm. His free hand found her waist, his thumb tracing idle circles through the fabric of her dress, and the words died in her throat.
"Sohei—"
He kissed her. Not the teasing brushes from earlier, but deep and claiming, his tongue sliding against hers in a way that made her knees weak. Hana gasped into his mouth, her hands fisting in his shirt to pull him closer.
Sohei pulled back just enough to murmur against her lips, "Invite me in." It wasn't a question—it was a low, deliberate command laced with heat.
Hana's breath hitched, her chest rising and falling as her mind raced. "What if I say no?" she whispered, though her voice betrayed her—trembling, breathless.
His lips brushed the edge of her ear, his voice dark and teasing. "Then I'll change your mind. Right here."
Her knees nearly buckled as his mouth trailed down her neck, each kiss igniting sparks under her skin. His hand slid up her side, fingers brushing just beneath the fabric of her dress. The hallway was still and quiet, but the chance someone might appear only made the moment more intense—sharp, electric.
"Key," he said again, voice rough and low.
Without a word, Hana fumbled for it, her fingers trembling slightly as she unlocked the door. As soon as the door swung open, Sohei stepped in first, his hand reaching back to pull her with him. The door closed behind them with a soft thud, sealing them in the quiet shadows of her apartment.
He turned to face her again, his gaze hungry but steady, voice barely above a whisper. "No distractions. Just us now."
Hana's breath hitched, her back gently pressing against the door as he stepped closer. But before she could speak, Sohei raised a hand to her cheek, his touch warm and sure.
"Relax," he murmured, his voice softer now. "I just want to kiss you tonight."
She blinked up at him, caught off guard by the tenderness in his tone.
"I'm not here to rush anything," he added, brushing his thumb lightly across her jaw. "We're not going further. I just want this. You. Right now."
Something in her chest eased. The tension, the nerves—all softened by the quiet promise in his voice.
Then he leaned in and kissed her again—slow, deep, and unhurried. The kind of kiss that made time blur and thoughts dissolve. His hands stayed gentle, roaming no further than her waist and back, but the way he kissed her—like he meant every second—left her breathless.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer. His hands cradled her face gently, thumbs brushing her cheeks while his fingers tangled softly in her hair. The tenderness, so different from his usual confident edge, made her stomach flutter.
When he finally pulled back to catch his breath, their foreheads stayed pressed together. She could feel the quick beat of his pulse against her skin—proof that, despite his calm, he wasn't unaffected either.
"See?" Sohei murmured, his breath warm against her lips. "This is enough." But the way his eyes lingered on her mouth gave away how hard he was holding back.
Hana gently traced his jaw, feeling the tension there. "It's more than enough," she whispered. But when she teasingly bit his lower lip, the low growl he let out sent a shiver through her.
"Look at me," he said.
She did.
"You don't have to keep running. I'm not going anywhere. And you don't have to be perfect to be loved."
His hands slid to her waist, holding her against the door as he kissed her deeper. She felt the hard press of his arousal, but true to his word, he didn't push further. Instead, he poured everything into the kiss—his mouth hot and demanding, his teeth occasionally grazing her lip, his hands gripping her like he was barely keeping himself in check.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing hard, Hana clung to his shoulders, her fingers wrinkling his shirt.
Sohei brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering. "I should go," he said quietly, though he didn't move.
Hana nodded, even as her hands stayed on him. "You should."
They stayed like that for a beat… then another.
It was Sohei who finally stepped back, his fingers brushing down her arm until the very last moment.
"Tomorrow," he said at the door, his voice low and sure.
Hana leaned against the frame, lips still tingling. "Tomorrow," she echoed softly—already wishing it was here.