The water burned in her lungs.
Yui flailed, her arms thrashing against the cold weight of the pool. Her heart hammered so violently she thought it might rip apart. She opened her eyes in the blur of blue—and froze.
Haruto.
He was there, suspended in the water like some untouchable phantom, his eyes locked on hers. He wasn't struggling. He wasn't reaching. He was simply watching her drown.
Yui's movements faltered. The panic clawing through her veins slowed, her limbs going weak, heavy. His gaze held her like an anchor. Even here—beneath the surface where her scream couldn't reach—he had control.
Then, slowly, Haruto raised a hand. His palm pressed against her cheek. The gesture was almost gentle, almost tender, but his dark eyes told another story—something unreadable, something dangerous.
Above, muffled through the water, a voice called."Yui? Yui, child, where are you?"
The old aunt.
Haruto's fingers brushed lightly across Yui's face, trailing like a warning. He shook his head once, deliberate, telling her without words: Stay silent.
The voice grew faint as the woman moved further inside the mansion.
And then—Haruto pushed upward, breaking the surface with a smooth movement. Yui followed, gasping desperately, her throat burning as she gulped down air.
By the time she dragged herself to the edge, Haruto was already climbing out of the pool. He didn't look at her. Didn't ask if she was alright. He simply grabbed a towel, slung it over his shoulders, and began walking toward the house, his tattoos making a move, his every step casual, deliberate… as though nothing had happened.
"Wait."
Yui scrambled to her feet, dripping, shivering, but determined. She ran after him, planting herself in front of him, blocking his path.
Her voice cracked, but she forced the words out. "Why are you ignoring me?"
For a moment, Haruto's shadowed eyes flickered down at her. Then he gave a dry laugh, lips curling. Without a word, his hand came up—not to hold her, but to shove her gently aside.
Her heel slipped against the wet tiles.
Splash!
Yui hit the water again, her scream swallowed by the pool.
By the time she surfaced, coughing and furious, Haruto had already turned his back on her, walking away, his towel draped loosely around his neck.
Something inside her snapped.
"Stop running away from me!" Yui shouted, her voice trembling. She dragged herself out of the pool again, her wet shoes squeaking against the marble. Her chest heaved as she sprinted after him. "I deserve an answer, Haruto! Why—why are you doing this to me?"
Her cries echoed through the wide halls.
And that was when she saw him.
A tall man in a suit, his features sharp, presence heavier even than Haruto's. His stride was commanding, his air reeking of authority—Haruto's father.
Yui froze, panic shooting through her veins. She wasn't supposed to be here. Not like this, dripping wet, looking like a lost, foolish intruder.
In an instant, Haruto spun. His eyes flashed with something unreadable as his hand closed firmly around hers. "This way."
Before she could protest, he tugged her sharply, pulling her down a different corridor. His pace was urgent, his grip like iron. Yui stumbled behind him, her soaked shoes squealing faintly against the polished floor.
They reached a room at the end of the hall. Haruto shoved the door open, dragged her inside, and locked it with a click.
The silence was deafening.
The air inside was darker, thicker. His room.
Yui's back hit the wall as Haruto pressed closer, his hands braced on either side of her, caging her in. His wet hair clung to his forehead, droplets sliding down his jaw. His eyes—those eyes—burned into hers, stormy and unrelenting.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, trapped between fear and the strange pull he always awakened in her.
His voice was low, almost a growl. "What do you want?"
The question cut deep.
Yui's throat tightened. Her mind screamed for her to push him away, to escape, to stop this dangerous closeness. But her heart… her heart wouldn't stop pounding, wouldn't stop betraying her with the way her lips trembled.
"I… I want to know why," she whispered. "Why you do this. Why you protect me one second, and hurt me the next. Why you look at me… like that."
Haruto tilted his head slightly, a crooked smile twitching at his lips. His breath ghosted against her ear as he leaned in closer.
"You really think you're ready for the answer?"
Her hands pressed against his chest, but she didn't push him away. Her fingers shook with the effort of holding herself steady.
"Tell me," she demanded, her voice breaking. "I can't keep living like this… not knowing what you want from me."
Haruto's smirk faltered, just slightly. A shadow crossed his expression, almost too quick to catch. His hand lifted, brushing a strand of wet hair from her cheek, lingering too long against her skin.
"What I want…" His whisper trailed, heavy with something dark, something aching. "…you wouldn't survive it, Yui."
Her breath caught. His words were chains, his touch a fire.
"Then let me drown," she whispered back before she realized the weight of her words.
Haruto froze. His eyes widened a fraction, his mask cracking, the storm in his gaze breaking open.
The silence between them roared louder than the pool's water ever had.
He suddenly slammed his fist into the desk and then ran his fingers through his hair in annoyance.
And then—without another word—Haruto pushed off the wall, stepping back, his expression shuttering into indifference again.
"Wear whatever suits you," he muttered coldly, unlocking the door. "I will drop you home."
But Yui couldn't move. Her body trembled where she stood.
With all the courage muttered in her heart, she spoke in one breath, "I am not going anywhere unless I get answers."
Haruto locked the door as he slowly turned over. He smirked, clearly amused by the reaction. "Fiesty, I like it."
He took a step closer to Yui. He closed the distance between you two, his hand going to your chin, lifting your head so that you were looking up at him.