Warmth in the Quiet

Jun rose up from the couch and made his way to his desk. The chair creaked slightly as he sat and opened his laptop. "You should rest."

"I'm okay. I don't need rest."

He glanced at her. "You had a rough couple of days." His voice low. "Call your agency and tell them you're sick or there's an emergency."

Akari frowned. "I already missed work this morning. I still thought about going in later though..."

Eyes back to his screen as he began to type. "It's better if you stay away for a bit. It'll buy us some time and maybe put pressure on whoever's behind this."

"But I have responsibilities."

Jun turned to fully face her this time. "You can't fulfill your desire to live your sister's life if you don't have life of your own." His voice was firm but not cruel. "Now, trust me and go rest."

Akari opened her mouth to protest, but the words never came. The fight drained from her as quickly as it had risen.

Jun was right - she was exhausted. The throbbing in her neck pulsed with every heartbeat. Even sitting upright felt heavier than it should have.

"Fine..." She quietly murmured, letting herself sink into the couch. "Only for a bit..."

Jun gave her a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting just slightly - not quite a smile, but close.

For a while, the only sound in the room was the faint hum of his laptop. The glow of the screen painted the side of his face in a soft grey light, his expression focused but unreadable.

Akari's eyes fluttered, her body finally surrendering to the fatigue too long built up. 

While Akari slept, Jun pulled a list of numbers from the burner phone, checking call history and messages. He dug into news feeds and similar old case files. He called old contacts, people who still owed him favors, anyone who might have information or could help. Between each call, his gaze drifted back to Akari, just to make sure she was still there.

-

When Akari woke, the apartment was dim, the faint orange wash of evening slipping through the cracks of the curtains. A blanket draped completely over her - one she didn't remember was there before.

It was eerily quiet. Jun's desk empty, laptop closed.

Her eyes caught a note on the table:

I'll be back. Don't go anywhere.

His handwriting was quick but neat.

She sat up slowly, her body stiff and sore. She reluctantly turned her phone back on, the screen lighting her face in the dark. 

8:14pm.

16 more missed calls.

22 more unread messages.

Her throat tightened. 

She hesitated, then pressed the call on her manager's number.

"Hello? Akari?" The panic in his voice painfully obvious.

"Hi Tsukasa." Her voice switching to that practiced, sweet tone - the one that belonged to the version of herself she showed to the world. "I'm so sorry, I've come down with a terrible fever. I'll need a few days to recover."

A pause. "If we move things around, it will really hurt the production and schedules." Frustration making its way into his voice.

"I know and I'm sorry." Her voice soft and bright. "But I'm in no condition to sing or act, it'll be just as bad if I show up. Once I've recovered, I'll get everything done - fast and perfect. You know me Tsukasa, I can make it all up when I'm back. Don't you trust me?" 

Another pause. "Fine... You have until Friday. We can't cancel your performance, so make sure you're ready for it."

"Of course. Thank you for understanding." She said sweet, the mask tightening with each word.

When the call ended, she turned her phone off again, the room falling back into silence. 

I wonder where Jun went... 

Her chest ached with a small, unfamiliar anxiety. She didn't realize until now how easily Jun's presence had anchored her.

I shouldn't rely on him too much... Her exhaustion pulled her to sleep again.

-

Akari awoke again, this time by the faint, comforting smell of something cooking. Her stomach gave a small, betraying growl.

She slowly got up, hesitantly following the smell to the kitchen.

Jun stood by the stove, sleeves rolled, stirring a pot of rice porridge. Steam curled up around his face, softening his usually sharp expression.

"You're awake." He said, noticing her presence behind him.

Akari stepped closer, her voice still hoarse from sleep. "Where did you go?"

Jun turned down the heat and reached for two bowls. "I went out to get some things - groceries, pain relief patches, and some clothes. They're in the bedroom for you."

Her eyes widened slightly, taken aback. "You didn't have to-"

"I did." He gently cut in. "You needed them."

The air between them felt soft, different. 

"Eat while it's hot." He said as he made his way to the table.

Akari hesitated, then followed.

As Jun set the bowl in front of her, Akari realized something. She couldn't remember the last time someone had cooked for her.

The warmth of the rice porridge seeped through Akari's hands as she cupped the bowl. The faint scent of ginger and broth filled the small apartment. Hesitantly she took a bite. The warmth spreading instantly throughout her whole body. "It's really good..." She whispered.

A smirk threatened Jun's face. "You say it like you're surprised."

"You didn't strike me as someone who knew how to cook."

"Funny." He said flatly. "I thought the same about you."

"I-" She stopped herself from continuing, avoiding his eyes. She hated how easily he read her. She spent years perfecting her image, refining her personality and behavior. How does he see through it?

"I checked a few things while you slept." Jun continued, oblivious to Akari's internal conflict.

Akari looked back towards him. "Things?"

He nodded. "The burner phone from the attacker. I managed to trace a few call records - all dead numbers, which was expected. But one number is still active, a caller from right before your attack the other day. I'm having someone check more in to it."

"Someone?"

"Someone I can trust. Don't worry, I didn't mention anything about you."

"You still keep in touch with people from the police?"

"A few." He simply said. "Not many, but enough."

"What ever happened to the attacker...?" She asked, unsure if she wanted an answer.

"I had someone pick him up to question him quietly. I'll probably hear back from them soon."

"What happens after you question him...?"

"We'll keep him quiet until we can figure out who's behind all of this."

Akari took another bite of the porridge. "Do you have any leads or ideas about who's behind this?" 

Jun stopped eating, his gaze meeting Akari's. "I think you and I both have a pretty good idea of who."

Her lips parted, but no words came out. Because he was right. Somewhere deep down, she did have an idea. She just didn't want to believe it.