Chapter 6: “Rain, Ramen, and Heartbeats”

Yui woke to warmth. A soft kind of warmth. Cozy and slow, like sunlight filtered through a blanket.

Only... there was no sunlight.

And the “blanket” was breathing.

Her eyes blinked open.

Wait.

Wait.

She was… being spooned.

A very real, very warm, very Haruki-shaped person was behind her, arm draped around her waist, his nose tucked just under her ear like a puppy in love with her shampoo.

Okay. Don’t panic, her brain whispered. This is fine. This is adorable. It’s just harmless cuddling. Cuddling is innocent. Sweet. Platonic. Well—not platonic—but still wholesome!

She tried to shift a little.

That was when she felt it.

Oh no.

Her entire body tensed like someone had thrown her into an ice bath, except the opposite, because oh no, now she was overheating.

There was something—no, someone—pressed firmly against her backside.

Something unmistakable.

Something that rhymed with panic.

Her brain screamed:

Do not overreact. DO NOT OVERREACT. HE IS ASLEEP. THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK. THIS IS NATURE. BIOLOGY. STUPID, BETRAYING MALE BIOLOGY.
Oh god it twitched. IT TWITCHED.

Her cheeks were on fire. She could feel the flush crawling down her neck like lava.

Part of her wanted to roll over and yell, EXCUSE ME, SIR, YOUR BOYFRIEND MODE IS GLITCHING.

But the other part—traitorous, dreamy, romantic—kind of... liked it.

Not the thing pressed against her—okay fine, also that—but the warmth. The closeness. The feeling of being wanted, held, safe.

Was she ready for this?

Nope.

Was she dying?

Absolutely.

But… was she also kind of stupidly in love?

Yeah. She was.

Still, she had to move before she had a heart attack.

Yui cleared her throat quietly and shifted forward just enough to gently un-spoon herself.

Haruki mumbled something about curry and rolled over, still fast asleep.

She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her flushed face.

This man is going to be the death of me.

The plan that morning was simple: go to the bookstore, grab coffee, maybe wander through the park.

The universe, however, had a different plan.

Specifically, a torrential downpour that struck without warning as they exited the train station—big, fat, movie-grade raindrops that came down like the sky had just lost a bet.

By the time they sprinted across the street and ducked under the striped awning of a tiny ramen shop, they were both completely soaked.

Yui’s bangs stuck to her forehead. Haruki’s hoodie dripped onto the floor with every breath. They looked like two extras in a low-budget disaster film.

“W-well,” Haruki said, teeth chattering. “On the bright side, I always wanted to do the ‘accidental rain date’ cliché.”

Yui squished water out of her sleeves. “We’re walking clichés. So romantic.”

The old man behind the counter gave them exactly one glance and pointed to a table by the window. “Sit. I’ll bring towels.”

They sat. Shivered. Shared one towel between them like survivors of a shipwreck.

Yui sneezed. Haruki reached over instinctively and used the corner of the towel to dab her cheek.

The moment paused.

Just for a second.

His fingers lingered just a little too long.

Her breath caught.

“Sorry,” he said softly, voice warmer than the towel. “You had a… raindrop.”

Yui swallowed. “Thanks.”

The ramen came piping hot and smelled like heaven. Yui had barely taken a bite before she let out a little sigh. “This might be the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“Be honest,” Haruki said around a mouthful of noodles. “Is it the flavor, or are we just emotionally destroyed?”

“Both.”

They slurped and snorted and giggled like kids. The window fogged up from the steam and their shared laughter. Somewhere outside, thunder rolled, but the world inside the shop felt far away. Warm. Safe.

Haruki looked across the table and felt his heart ache in the best way.

She was still wet-haired, hoodie-stuck-to-her-skin disheveled.

And she had never looked more beautiful.

He didn’t know exactly when it happened.

Maybe it was last night.

Maybe it was this morning.

Maybe it was that stupid moment under the blanket when he woke up and felt her in his arms and instinctively pulled her closer without thinking.

But he knew it now.

He wanted to stay with her forever.

That night, they lay in bed, clean and dry and full of warm carbs.

Haruki reached over to turn off the lamp, but Yui stopped him with a soft touch to his hand.

He turned back. “Yeah?”

She looked at him, serious.

Nervous.

Her voice came out small. “I think I really love you.”

His breath hitched.

For one terrifying second, he froze.

Yui’s heart lurched. Too soon? Too much? Did I just ruin—

But then—

He broke into the goofiest, brightest, most ridiculous grin she had ever seen.

“You beat me to it.”

She laughed, half in relief, half in disbelief. “You dork.”

He leaned in and kissed her.

Slow. Sweet. The kind that didn’t demand anything, just gave.

“I love you too, Yui.”

And this time, when she curled up against him under the blanket, she didn’t worry about space or rules or being ready.