Chapter 8 : Tension in the air

Tuesday morning arrived with a thin layer of fog over Tokyo, giving the city a muted, sleepy look. Ayase walked briskly with a cup of vending-machine coffee warming her hands. She hoped it would steady the nervous flutter in her chest.
Yesterday’s shoot replayed in her mind: Aki’s soft smile, Ren’s cold stare, Yurina and Takeshi knowing grin. She tried to shake it off. Work is work. Feelings don’t belong there.
Easier said than believed.

---
Namilab — 8:55 a.m.
The office was unusually silent when she arrived — everyone was prepping for the follow-up shoot scheduled later today. As Ayase dropped her bag beside her desk, Kana slid over like she was on invisible wheels.
“Soooo,” Kana whispered dramatically, “I saw Ren’s face when he left yesterday. I thought we were about to witness a villain origin story.”
Ayase shook her head. “It’s not like that.”
“Mm-hmm. And Aki showing up early this morning wasn’t suspicious at all.”
Ayase blinked. “Aki’s already here?”
“He’s in the studio,” Kana said. “He asked where you were three minutes after arriving.”
Ayase felt her cheeks warm. “He probably had questions about the shoot.”
“Sure,” Kana hummed with a smirk. “Very… specific questions.”
---
The Studio — 9:10 a.m.
Aki stood by the backdrop, practicing poses awkwardly in the reflection of a metallic lamp. He looked as if he had fought a mirror and lost.
His agent, Yurina, lay sideways on a couch that absolutely wasn’t meant for lying sideways. She sipped iced tea lazily.
When Aki saw Ayase, his entire posture brightened.
“Ayase-san! Good morning!”
“Good morning, Aki,” she said warmly. “You’re early.”
“I wanted to practice,” he said, cheeks slightly pink. “Yesterday I felt like my hands didn’t know what to do.”
“They were fine,” Ayase assured him. “But we can go over some posture tips.”
I like sounding like a professional.
Aki beamed, so sincerely it tugged at her chest.
Behind them, Yurina smirked. “He’s been rehearsing ‘brooding but sexy’ faces for the last ten minutes.”
Aki groaned. “Yurinaaaa!”
Ayase laughed. “I think that’s a good sign. It means you’re trying.”
“And panicking,” Yurina added lazily.
Suddenly, the temperature in the room seemed to drop a degree.
Ren entered.
He walked with practiced calm, but his eyes darted immediately toward Ayase and Aki standing close together.
His jaw tightened. “Morning.”
Ayase smiled politely. “Good morning, Ren-san.”
Aki bowed. “Good morning!”
Ren nodded stiffly.
Yurina, still sprawled on the couch, lifted her iced tea like she was toasting him.
“Morning to you too, Cold Front.”
Ren shot her a sharp look. Yurina grinned wider.
---
The studio lights flickered on, bathing the set in soft moonlight tones. Aki stepped onto the platform, gripping the Eclipse bottle tightly.
Ayase guided him through the scene, adjusting his angle gently.
“Relax your shoulders,” she murmured.
Aki did — but then he looked at her, eyes soft, like her voice alone soothed him.
Ayase felt her heart skip again.
Behind them, Ren’s eye twitched visibly.
Takeshi whispered to Yurina: “Ren-san is… um… vibrating.”
“Oh, he’s definitely jealous,” Yurina replied, sipping her drink without shame. “This is better than television.”
Ren turned sharply. “I can hear you.”
“Good,” Yurina said lazily. “I wasn’t whispering.”
Takeshi smiled.
---
During a short break, Ayase stepped aside to review the photographs on the monitor. Aki followed, hands clasped behind his back.
“These look nice,” Ayase said. “You’ve improved a lot since yesterday.”
Aki leaned closer, their shoulders touching.
“I’m glad you think so,” he murmured.
Ayase stepped back automatically, flustered. “S-sorry!”
“No, I should’ve paid attention,” Aki panicked, waving his hands.
They both laughed, awkward and warm.
Ren watched from across the studio, expression dark. He turned away sharply when their laughter became a little too soft.
Yurina noticed instantly. She slid up beside him like a lazy shadow.

---

In the afternoon, Mister Suda announced a new test shot: a close-up of Aki reaching out as if calling someone from afar.
It required emotion. It required vulnerability.
It required looking at someone he trusted.
“Ayase-san,” Aki said timidly, “could you stand behind the camera? It… helps.”
Ayase blinked. “Of course.”
She positioned herself.
Aki inhaled deeply.
The lights dimmed. Shadows painted his face with quiet longing.
Aki’s eyes lifted — and locked onto Ayase’s.
The room seemed to still.
His expression softened into something gentle… intimate… almost aching.
The photographer clicked rapidly. “Yes—perfect! That’s the emotion! Beautiful!”
Ayase felt heat climb her neck. She suddenly understood why the director wanted this shot.
Aki only looked at her.
Only her.
Ren’s jaw dropped slightly. Takeshi grabbed his sleeve in panic. Yurina put a hand over her mouth in excitement.
“He’s in trouble,” she whispered gleefully.
But she didn’t specify which one.
---
When the director called cut, Aki exhaled shakily. Ayase hurried to him.
“You did amazing!” she said, voice still a little breathless.
Aki blushed, rubbing his neck. “I… wasn’t acting.”
Ayase froze.
Aki realized what he said and flailed. “N-no! I meant! I wasn’t forcing the expression! I didn’t mean— I mean—”
Ayase laughed nervously. “It’s alright. Don’t worry.”
But her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
Ren stood five meters away, looking like someone had just told him his favorite show was canceled.
Takeshi whispered, “Ren, calm down…”
Ren exhaled a slow, cold breath. “I am calm.”
He absolutely was not.
---
When the shoot wrapped up for the day, Ayase gathered her notes. Aki lingered nearby, hesitant.
“Um… Ayase-san,” he said softly, “are you free after this? I wanted to ask… more about the role. Maybe over coffee…”
Ayase blinked.
Aki looked hopeful—and nervous enough to combust.
Before she could answer, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Ayase.”
Ren.
He stepped forward, his expression still cold but something beneath it crackling, restrained.
“A moment,” he said. “We need to review the updated storyboard. Now.”
Ayase hesitated before turning to Aki. “I’m sorry… maybe tomorrow?”
Aki deflated, but nodded politely. “Of course. Don’t worry.”
Yurina raised an eyebrow at Ren. “Smooth, Ice Prince. Very smooth.” she thought while staring at him.
Ren ignored her completely.
Ayase followed Ren out of the studio, confused by the tension on his face.
Ren stopped walking once they were alone. Ayase watched him carefully.
“Ren-san?” she asked. “Are you upset about something?”
Ren’s hands clenched at his sides. For a long moment, he didn’t speak.
Then, quietly—
“I just don’t want you to be… distracted.”
Ayase blinked. “Distracted?”
Ren looked away, voice low, controlled.
“Ayase, we’re working on something important. You’re important to this project. I just want you to… stay focused.”
Ayase stared at him.
Was he worried about her?
Or worried about Aki?
She tried to smile lightly. “I won’t get distracted. I promise.”
Ren’s eyes finally met hers.
But instead of relief, something flickered — frustration? jealousy? worry?
He nodded stiffly. “Good.”
Ayase wasn’t convinced.
She wasn’t sure Ren was convinced either.
When Ayase returned to the studio to pick up her notes, Yurina was waiting like she’d been expecting her.
“So?” she asked.
“So… what?”
Yurina smirked. “Ren dragged you away. Aki looked like a sad puppy. You look confused. Classic triangle chaos.”
Ayase sputtered. “It’s not— a triangle— there’s no—”
“Mhm,” Yurina hummed lazily. “Sure.”
“What do you think happened?” Ayase asked cautiously.
Yurina didn’t hesitate.
“Oh, that’s easy,” she said.“Aki likes you. Ren likes you. And you… like both without realizing it.”
Ayase froze.
Yurina stretched, grabbing her bag. “This is going to be fun.”
She walked away humming.
Ayase stood there, stunned.
Her heart was racing. Her mind spinning.
And deep down, quietly—
She wondered if Yurina was right.
End of chapter 8