52

Ashi’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing again. " Uhm...Thanks for thinking of that, Kichiro-san, but I need to head back. My aunt will be worried about me.”

Haari nodded, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “Okay. Be safe on your way home.”

Ashi stepped out into the rain, her umbrella shielding her from the downpour. But just as she opened the gate.

SPLASH!

A sudden gust of wind sent a wave of rainwater straight at her, soaking her all over again.

A moment of silence.

Haari stared at her, lips twitching.

"Pfft—"

Ashi turned her head toward him, narrowing her eyes. "You’re laughing, aren’t you?"

Haari coughed into his fist. "N-no, not at all."

" Looks like rain is heavier then I expected." Ashi.

" Yeah " Haari.

The rain continued to pour outside, the occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the darkened city. Inside Haari’s apartment, the warmth was a stark contrast to the chilly night.

Ashi stood by the window, her phone pressed to her ear. "Yeah, I’ll be staying at a friend’s place tonight, so don’t worry about me… Okay… Good night, Aunty."

She ended the call and let out a deep breath before turning around. Haari stood near the closet, holding a spare futon in his hands.

"So, I’ll take the futon. You can sleep on the bed," Haari said casually as he spread it out on the floor beside the bed.

Ashi blinked. "Huh? But it’s your bed. You should be the one sleeping on it."

"Nah, I’m used to sleeping on a futon. It’s fine," Haari shrugged.

Ashi frowned slightly. "Still, I feel kinda bad… I mean, I’m the one intruding here."

"It’s not a big deal," Haari reassured her.

Ashi rolled her eyes but smiled, climbing onto the bed. "Fine, whatever."

She sat cross-legged, looking down at Haari as he adjusted his pillow. She had already changed into a fresh set of clothes and looked way more comfortable than earlier.

"Oh, by the way," she said, tugging at the oversized shirt she was wearing. "I’m borrowing your clothes again."

Haari glanced at her and then quickly looked away. "Yeah… I can see that."

Ashi’s face heated up slightly. "D-Don’t make it weird!"

"I didn’t say anything!" Haari defended himself, lying down.

Ashi huffed and pulled the blanket over herself.

"Good night," she mumbled.

"Night, Nicawa-san."

A loud clap of thunder rumbled through the sky, shaking the apartment slightly.

Ashi’s eyes shot open. Her heart pounded as another strike of lightning flashed through the window. The storm outside was raging harder now, and with every roar of thunder, she curled further into the blanket.

She lay still for a moment, trying to calm her breathing. But then, another sharp crack split the sky, making her jolt upright. She hesitated for a moment before quietly calling out.

"Kichiro-san… Kichiro-san."

Haari groaned softly, stirring from his sleep. "Mm… what?"

Ashi bit her lip. "I… I can’t sleep."

Haari turned his head to look at her. Even in the dim light, he could tell she was tense. "Is it the thunder?"

Ashi hesitated before nodding.

Haari blinked a few times, trying to wake up properly. "You’re… scared?"

Ashi frowned. "Don’t say it like that! It’s not like I’m a kid or anything. It’s just… really loud, okay?"

Haari rubbed his eyes and exhaled. "Alright, so what do you want me to do?"

Ashi fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. "Could you…" She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Could you… just hold my hand?"

Haari froze for a second, caught completely off guard. "Huh?"

"Just for a little while," Ashi quickly added. "I think… it’ll help me sleep."

Haari stared at her. He could see the slight embarrassment on her face, the way she was avoiding eye contact, her fingers gripping the blanket tightly.

He sighed, shifting slightly so he could reach up. "Alright…"

His hand brushed against hers, and Ashi flinched slightly.

"Oh—sorry," Haari said, pulling back.

"No… it’s alright," Ashi murmured, then slowly placed her hand in his.

Their fingers intertwined naturally, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The warmth of his hand was comforting, steady. Ashi let out a small breath, relaxing slightly.

"Is this okay?" Haari asked.

Ashi nodded, her grip tightening just a little. "Yeah… thanks."

Within minutes, her breathing evened out, and she slowly drifted back to sleep.

Haari, on the other hand, stared at the ceiling, his heart beating slightly faster than usual.

He sighed quietly, glancing at Ashi’s peaceful sleeping face.

"This is gonna be a long night…" he muttered to himself.

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. The rain had stopped sometime during the night, leaving behind a cool, fresh scent in the air.

Haari stirred slightly, his body warm and strangely comfortable. As his eyes fluttered open, his breath caught in his throat.

Ashi was lying on top of him.

Her face was mere inches away from his, her soft breaths brushing against his skin. Her lashes trembled slightly as she began to stir, and Haari felt his pulse quicken. Their lips… they were dangerously close. If either of them moved even a little—

Panic surged through him, and in an instant, he shut his eyes, pretending to still be asleep.

Ashi’s eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light. At first, she blinked sleepily, still caught in the haze of slumber. But as her vision cleared, she froze.

Her heart pounded as she realized where she was—her body pressed against Haari’s, their faces so close that she could feel his warmth.

"Wha—?!"

Her face turned bright red. She needed to move—now. But as she quickly tried to push herself up, her hand slipped against the sheets, and before she could stop it—

She fell forward.

Soft.

Warm.

Her lips… were touching his.

The world seemed to come to a standstill.

Ashi’s breath hitched. Her entire body tensed as she realized what had just happened. Her heart pounded in her chest, a deafening rhythm that echoed in her ears.

Haari, though still pretending to be asleep, felt everything—the soft press of her lips, the way she gasped against his skin, the way her breath trembled. His mind went completely blank.

Ashi pulled back slightly, her face pale with shock. But instead of immediately moving away, she hesitated.

Her eyes lingered on Haari’s face. His expression was peaceful, almost… inviting.

Her fingers clenched the fabric of his shirt as she stared at him, her breath still shaky. Why… does this feel so…

"Ahem."

Haari coughed.

Ashi’s eyes widened in horror as she jerked back so fast she nearly fell off the bed. Her hands clutched her chest, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat.

"I—I—" She stammered, scrambling off the bed in complete panic.

Haari opened his eyes just in time to see Ashi bolt out of the room.

He lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, his heart hammering. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

"What… was that?" He muttered under his breath. His fingers subconsciously brushed over his lips. "Was Nicawa-san… trying to kiss me again?"

His face turned slightly red at the thought.

He sat up, still trying to process everything that had just happened.

Half an hour later, Haari stepped out of his room, his expression still a little dazed. He paused when he saw Ashi setting the table for breakfast.

She was back in her own clothes now, moving around the kitchen as if nothing had happened. But there was one problem—

She wouldn’t look at him.

His eyes darting to her before quickly looking away. Why is this so awkward?! he thought, clearing his throat as he took a seat at the table.

Ashi sat down across from him, her gaze fixed on her plate. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the silence almost unbearable.

“Thank you for the food,” Haari said finally, his voice slightly strained. He picked up his spoon and began eating, though his mind was far from the meal.

Ashi nodded, her hands gripping the edge of the table. Why does it feel like this? Why can’t I just act normal?! She took a sip of water, trying to steady her nerves.

Haari coughed lightly.

Ashi immediately grabbed a glass of water and passed it to him.

After what felt like an eternity, Haari broke the silence. “So… did you sleep well last night?” he asked, his eyes still avoiding hers.

Ashi, caught off guard, nearly choked on her own water. She quickly set the glass down, her face flustered. Oh why did I ask that of all thing , this is the last thing I ever ask .

"Y-Yeah. Thanks to you, I slept well."

Haari nodded. "That’s… good."

The silence returned, heavier than before. Ashi fidgeted with her spoon, her eyes darting to Haari and then back to her plate. “How is it?” she asked suddenly.

“Huh?” Haari looked up, confused.

“The breakfast… is it good?” Ashi clarified, her cheeks turning pink.

“Oh. Yeah, it’s perfect,” Haari said, forcing a small smile. “Thanks.”

Haari finished his meal and stood up, brushing off his pants. “I should get ready for the office,” he said, his voice a little too casual.

“Yeah,” Ashi replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Haari headed to the bathroom, leaving Ashi alone in the kitchen. She let out a breath, she’d been holding, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Why is this so hard?!”

A few moments later, Haari returned, dressed and ready for work. He found Ashi in the kitchen, packing two lunch boxes. “What are you doing, Nicawa-san?” he asked, his tone curious.

Ashi turned to him, holding up one of the boxes. “I just prepared our lunch boxes,” she said, her voice soft but steady.

Haari stepped closer, his eyes softening. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Ashi shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I wanted to. It’s the least I could do after… everything.”

Haari nodded, his gaze lingering on Ashi for a moment longer than necessary. She turned back to the counter, feeling her heart race as his presence loomed behind her. The quiet sound of his breathing, the slight rustle of his clothes—it was all too distracting.

Just then, her foot slipped on a patch of wet floor.

"Ah—!"

Before she could hit the ground, strong arms caught her, pulling her back to stability.

For the second time that morning, they found themselves too close once again.

Ashi’s breath hitched as she looked up, gripping Haari’s shirt without thinking. His hands were firm around her waist, steady and warm. Their bodies were barely apart, their faces inches away. The moment stretched, thick with something unspoken.

Then—

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The blaring alarm shattered the stillness.

Both of them flinched. Haari instinctively let go, and Ashi quickly stepped back, awkwardly brushing her hair behind her ear.

Haari let go of her reluctantly, stepping back to turn off the alarm on his phone. “Yeah, I set it for around this time.”

“Why?” Ashi asked, trying to steady her breathing.

“Because after washing up, I usually read some books,” Haari explained, scratching the back of his neck. “I set the alarm so I don’t lose track of time and end up being late.”

Ashi blinked, then chuckled.

Haari narrowed his eyes. "Are you laughing?"

"N-No, of course not," Ashi covered her mouth, but her shaking shoulders gave her away.

Then, as if remembering something, Ashi perked up. "Oh, that reminds me, Kichiro-san, did you read the book I gave you at the book fair?"

Haari froze for a split second, his mind racing. Crap. I completely forgot about that. He forced a smile, scratching the back of his head. “Um, yeah, I’m halfway through it. That book is good, Nicawa-san. You have great taste in stories.”

Ashi’s eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing glint in them. “Oh? Which part did you like the most?”