【Consideration】

"Jitsuko." 

He set the glass aside and reached for her hands. "I love you."

Between his fingers he could feel her hand growing colder, even a tremor. Her face was blank, almost pale.  He quickly released her immediately.

She pulled her hands back, fingers twisting into her hair. For a moment she looked at him and then away.

"I am really hungry," she said suddenly. "What about you?" 

Her words slapped him.

"I-I said I love you."

She leaned back in her seat, narrowing her eyes. Not in anger but in thought. "Akira, your words didn't seem too sincere. I think your current situation is making you lonely."

Her voice remained soft, but her words were firm. 

"Why?" Akira leaned forward, his throat dry, voice crisp. "You shouldn't say my words were fake."

She didn't say anything but only watched him as if she measured the fragility of the moment. 

His eye twitched; he shot up and slammed his hands on the table. His head throbbed as he felt his demeanour falling flat.

"Let's move to the interior garden."

They moved out to the restaurant's interior garden.  A cold breeze swept through their hair. Akira stood at a distance from Jitsuko; he had decided to smoke. She sat on a bench under a tree; her eyes were fixed on him.

What am I supposed to do?

Jitsuko looked at the grass beneath her feet.

  What do I even feel about him? 

6 months ago.

Jitsuko prepared for a stream; she noticed a new message in the group chat for The Zeros.

[Hello, I’m new.]
[I was sent some papers. What am I supposed to do with them?]

Everyone ignored him. Jitsuko did too.  Rookies often ask basic questions.

An hour later.

[Oh, I was supposed to sign them.]
[Done!]
::attached document::

Jitsuko stared at the text. He had sent his private forms to the entire staff. She sighed; since no one bothered answering him, she replied.

[You shouldn’t send these here.]
[If you need help, you can DM me instead.]

And he messaged immediately.

After that encounter, the two continued talking. She assumed he was a new staff member or an intern; he seemed too clueless to be anything else.

One day, he randomly texted her.

[Do you know how to use a rice boiler?]

Jitsuko stared at the text. It must be a joke.

But it wasn't.

She recorded a video of how the boiler worked and sent it. Afterwards, he continued asking about other appliances, chores, and everything.

He even vented about his life.

[The maid messes with me.]
[She says I’m hopeless.]
[She tattles to my aunt.]
[I hate her]

Jitsuko stared at his texts and burst into laughter. I just have to know who this person is...

[Are you an intern?]

[Nope, UwU.]
[I’m Kyroxfun]
[Ahh, finally, you didn't know something.]

Kyroxfun—the loud, chaotic, confident streamer with millions of fans?
This confused pampered boy?

He must be using a fake personality.
But in his streams, he was a natural, no flinch, no hesitation, a complete performance.

He even flirted.

[Your voice is beautiful~]

Oh, so now he is showing his true colours.

But he also showed a different type of attachment.

[I am not flirting]
[I just saw your video]
[Your skills are at peak!]

And then after his streams.

[Are you free?]
[I am so bored.]

He must be lonely.

1 month ago.

Rain splashed over the street as Jitsuko hurried toward The Zeros’ studio with an umbrella in her hand.

Then suddenly, Akira stepped out of The Zero's studio.

In a daze, he stumbled onto the street, rain washing all over him. Hair plastered to his forehead, his shoulders trembled.  He stood at the edge of the road and took a step forward just as a car sped past him.

A lump hardened in her throat as Jitsuko called out, running over.  Her voice was too soft to reach him.

He stopped, took a few steps back and slumped heavily on the wet pavement.

She reached him, extending her umbrella over his head.

He looked up at her with his empty yet distant eyes.

Not suicidal. Just… exhausted.

Back in the garden

Akira tossed the cigarette butt, crushing it beneath his boot. He sat down at the far side of the bench.

Jitsuko looked at him and found him looking at her. 

"My words weren't fake," he mumbled.

She moved closer to him. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said it like that."

He bit his lip. "I—I am rejected?" 

His body felt heavy, followed by a piercing headache. The idea of rejection had crossed his mind before, and the solution to it was turning back to Aunt Fuyuko. 

"What do you even like about me?" 

He gasped; there was so much he could say. "You are such a charming—"

"Not your blunt flirtation." She interrupted softly. "Sincerity." 

His mind turned back to the time she first answered him even when she didn't know who he was. When her kindness filled the silence of his apartment without asking for anything in return.

I fell for her kindness, and it never mattered what she was like or even what gender she was. I liked how complete it felt.

A flush crept up his neck. He looked away.

"I-I... Everything..."

Jitsuko sighed. "This side of you confuses me."

Akira remained still; he tried to calm himself. I was trying to win her; how come I dropped my guard? 

"I don't love you romantically, but I don't hate you either. So I can't just reject you."

He looked at her. His pulse quickened. "I—it's not a no."

She shook her head. "I will consider you, but try being more sincere around me."