Act 18: Warmth

The moment Natsuki stepped into the house, I heard Hana’s voice from down the hall. Bright, animated, and unmistakably excited. By the time I rounded the corner into the living room, she was already gushing to Mom and Dad about running into Natsuki earlier that day.

Her excitement carried all the way to the entrance.

Natsuki and I exchanged a quiet smile.

“I’m home,” I said as I stepped in, Natsuki at my side.

“Ah—Yukina, I was just—” Hana’s words cut off the instant she noticed who was standing next to me.

Natsuki had removed her mask, her face fully visible now.

Hana’s eyes widened. They flicked from me, to Natsuki, and back again. For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

I glanced at my parents. They looked just as surprised. They knew Koba Natsuki, they had admired her work from the screen for years, even if not with the same fervor as Hana.

“This is Koba Natsuki,” I said, my voice catching despite myself. “My… girlfriend.”

Heat rushed to my face, the word hanging in the air as my heart hammered against my ribs.

I watched my parents closely. Neither of them looked upset, but surprise was unmistakable. My mother lifted a hand to her mouth, eyes wide, while my father just seemed to smile. Hana, on the other hand, looked far too pleased with herself, grinning like she’d been waiting for this moment.

Natsuki stepped forward before I could spiral any further. She bowed deeply, hands folded neatly in front of her.

“My name is Koba Natsuki,” she said clearly. “Thank you for allowing me into your home.” She lifted her head, emerald eyes steady but gentle. “Yukina has been very kind to me. I care for her deeply, and I promise I will treat her with respect.”

She hesitated for just a beat, then added, a small, earnest smile breaking through her composure, “I hope, in time, I can earn yours as well.”

Her hand brushed mine as she straightened and just like that, my racing heart eased, if only a little.

“You’re welcome in this household anytime,” my mom walked up to her and took her hand.

The light seemed to sparkle in Natsuki’s eyes as she nodded along.

Afterward, Mom invited all of us over to the dinner table. I had taken Natsuki’s small luggage upstairs to my room where I began to lay the futon, as I assumed that she would be sleeping in my room. The pounding in my chest wouldn’t subside as the thought of Natsuki in my house, and my room started to settle.

What was I thinking?

The thought of wanting to stay with her more had totally overcame me, but I didn’t regret that at all. If anything happened because of this I would take full responsibility, as it was my own selfishness.

I cleaned my room a little bit before going back downstairs, conscious of the slight mess I had with clothes on the floor and my bed un made. Going down the steps I could hear laughter from the kitchen, the sound easing my heart. At least it seemed like they were having fun, but I hope they weren’t bombarding her with questions.

The moment I stepped in, I had expected them to be sitting at the dinner table, but instead my Mom, sister, and Natsuki were sitting around the coffee table looking at something as I took a seat with my Dad who was sipping on some tea.

“What are they looking at?”

“Who knows,” he replied in a way that was out of character for him. I wasn’t sure if this was his way of teasing me.

The squeal that came from Natsuki was one I’d never heard before.

“She’s so cute! Can I have a copy of this one? Aww, her eyes are so big!” She sounded genuinely giddy over whatever she was looking at. My curiosity peaked, and I walked over to see what had captured her so completely.

“This is a picture of her winning her first track meet in middle school,” my mom said.

When I leaned in, I froze. Spread across the table was a thick photo album filled with pictures of… me.

“H–Hey! What are you all looking at? That’s an invasion of privacy!”

The photos spanned from kindergarten to my last year of middle school. I didn’t look all that different back then, but to Natsuki, it was all entirely new. The look on her face was soft, and delighted, which made me pause. I didn’t want to interrupt her enjoyment. Still, the embarrassment crept up on me, and I turned to walk away, trying not to dwell on the past.

Suddenly, Natsuki reached for my hand, stopping me in place.

“Wait—” Her gaze dropped to where our hands met, and she immediately pulled back. “Sorry, uhm… it’s nothing.” She turned away, her ears turning red.

I wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened, but I returned to my seat across from my dad and watched as everyone continued to fawn over the old photos. Eventually, once they’d had their fill, we all moved to the dinner table. Warm dishes were set out, and we began to eat.

The conversation stayed light. My parents asked Natsuki about her work, careful not to pry too deeply or push into anything too personal. Sitting there, I felt as though I’d finally placed the last piece of a puzzle into place, and now I was simply admiring the picture it created.

I’d been nervous at first, unsure of how they’d react. But knowing how understanding my parents were, maybe I hadn’t needed to worry so much after all.

~~~

Dinner time was over and we had cleaned up the plates. Everyone was turning in for the night. I brought Natsuki upstairs to where she’d be staying.

“I hope it isn’t too cramped in here, but your things are up here as well,” I opened the door to my room. Revealing something that was actually quite similar to my room in my current apartment, though the only difference was that it was decorated with some trophies on my shelves, pictures of my achievements when I ran from middle school to high school.

Natsuki took a step inside my room but she seemed a little different compared to before as she seemed to be avoiding eye contact with me.

“Natsuki?” No response, but her face was glowing brighter, “Natsukiiii~”

She jumped at the second time and looked at me, “W-What?” she was playing with her hands in front of her fidgeting.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah…yeah I am,” she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“The bath is ready for you, so you can go ahead.”

She absentmindedly nodded her head, and grabbed a set of clothes from her luggage. I was starting to worry for her.

She walked toward the bathroom and shut the door behind her. I, in turn, just picked out a book from my shelf and tried to distract myself. Though I just found myself flipping through the pages trying to look for something interesting. I didn’t know how much time passed, but it was long enough for Natsuki to come back to my room as I heard a knock on my door.

I slid the door open, and the faint scent of shampoo drifted toward me before I even registered what I was seeing.

Natsuki stood there in a soft set of pink pajamas, still warm from the bath. Her golden hair fell loose around her shoulders, slightly damp, strands clinging to her collarbone and the fabric of her sleeves. There was a faint sheen to her skin, like she’d stepped straight out of steam and light, and for a second my brain simply… stopped working.

She looked different like this. Not the actress. Not the composed performer. Just Natsuki, fresh and unguarded.

“Oh,” I managed, brilliantly.

Her eyes flicked to mine, then away just as quickly.

“Y-You can go ahead and turn in,” I said, voice a little too quick. “I’m going to take my bath. You don’t have to stay up.”

I escaped to the bathroom before my thoughts could betray me any further.

I told myself I’d take my time.

I absolutely did not.

The longer I was in the water, the worse my thoughts spiraled. Her hair. Her pajamas. The way she’d avoided my eyes earlier, the way she hadn’t reached for my hand in front of my parents. Realization crept in, slow and undeniable.

She’s nervous.

The idea alone made my chest feel warm.

I cut the water off after barely five minutes and all but burst back into the room.

Natsuki startled, shoulders jumping as she looked up at me. “T-That was fast.”

“Yeah,” I said, wiping water from my hair. “Uh. Got… warm.”

She was sitting against the bedframe, knees drawn in, waiting. Definitely waiting.

“You didn’t have to,” I added softly.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she patted the futon beside her.

I sat.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The room felt smaller than before, quieter. Then I noticed it. The way she sat stiffly, hands folded in her lap, shoulders slightly hunched.

So I leaned closer.

“Are you nervous?”

I felt her shoulders jolt.

“I am… what about it?” She tried to tuck her face between her knees. “I’m in my girlfriend’s house, I met her parents, and now I’m in her room. How could I not be?” Her ears were glowing red. “I thought you’d be more nervous too, but you look way too calm. It’s weird.”

I laughed quietly. “I am nervous. My head’s been a mess since the moment you walked in. I’m just better at pretending.” My voice softened. “Seeing you like this makes me want to tease you a little.”

“T-That’s unfair,” she muttered.

Then, without warning, she stood, took a single step between my legs, and sat down again, her back settling against my chest. “Now you can’t see my face.”

Slowly, carefully, I relaxed, letting my hands rest at my sides, close enough to feel her warmth without daring to touch.

“Comfortable?” I asked quietly.

She leaned back just a little more. “Maybe.”

And just like that, the nerves softened. The room felt warm again, not from fluster or panic, but from the simple, steady weight of her there with me.

We stayed like that for a long while, talking softly. She told me about her trip, the places she’d seen, the small things she’d noticed along the way. I talked about home, about Hana, about school, nothing in particular. They were the same kinds of conversations we had over the phone, but with her here, every word felt brighter, more real.

Eventually, her head grew heavier against my chest.

“Are you sleepy?” I asked.

“Yeah…” she murmured.

I shifted, guiding her toward my bed, but she turned and wrapped her arms around me, holding on like she had no intention of letting go.

After hesitating a moment longer, I gave in and eased her down onto the futon I’d meant for myself. I crossed the room to turn off the light, then slipped in beside her, the darkness wrapping around us.

She must’ve been exhausted just to get here.

I stayed awake a little longer, listening to her breathing even out, slow and steady. Sharing the futon felt strangely daunting and impossibly comforting all at once.

I kept my eyes open as long as I could, memorizing the warmth, the quiet, the simple fact that she was here with me. I wished, just for a moment, that it could always be like this.

Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and the world gently slipped away.

~~~

Waking up the next morning felt unreal, like I’d been dropped back into my body too quickly. The warmth in my chest lingered, the memory of last night still soft and vivid.

Then my hand brushed the futon beside me.

Cold.

My eyes snapped open.

The space next to me was empty.

I sat up too fast, the room tilting as my gaze swept frantically across it. The bed. The door. The corner where her bag had been.

Gone.

Her luggage was gone.

My breath caught as my eyes flew to the digital clock on my desk.

8:30 a.m.

My stomach sank.

Seven a.m. sharp.

Kurogane’s voice echoed in my head, calm and absolute. I pressed a hand to my temple as a long breath slipped out, half relief, half dread. She must’ve already left. Of course she had.

I swung myself to my feet and hurried downstairs, my footsteps louder than they should’ve been, each one echoing in my ears. The house felt wrong. Too quiet. Too tense.

Then I heard it.

A newscaster’s voice.

The television was on.

For a fleeting, foolish second, I hoped I’d see her standing there. Mask pulled down, offering me that sheepish smile like she’d just stepped out for a moment.

Instead—

“Yukina!”

Hana’s voice stopped me cold.

I looked up. My parents sat stiffly on the couch, untouched coffee in their hands. Hana stood frozen near the TV, her face pale.

Every instinct in my body screamed.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, though I already felt the answer clawing its way up my spine.

“It’s Natsuki.”

My head turned on instinct.

The headline on the screen burned itself into my vision.

‘Star of the Hoshizora Troupe, Koba Natsuki, Caught in an Affair?!’

My heart dropped so hard it felt like the floor vanished beneath me.