Chapter 36 : you're not alone

The parking of the apartment complex was almost empty.Ayase stood near a vending machine, phone still in her hand. The screen was dark now, but the weight of everything lingered.“Hey.”She looked up.Aki was there, fidgeting with his sleeve. Tachibana leaned casually against a car, and Toma was behind them, his wheelchair angled toward her.“You disappeared” Tachibana said gently. “We were worried.”Ayase forced a smile. “I’m fine.”No one believed it.Toma spoke first.“You didn’t do anything wrong.”Her breath caught.“People talk,” he continued calmly. “But the truth doesn’t change.”Aki nodded quickly. “R-Ren talks about you with respect. So do I... So do we... A lot.” He blushed. “So… please don’t think you’re a problem.”Ayase’s eyes stung.Tachibana crossed her arms, expression serious now. “This industry eats quiet people alive. Don’t let it.”She stepped closer. “If anyone comes at you, they come through us.”Ayase let out a shaky breath.“Thank you,” she whispered.Toma smiled softly. “Ren chose to stand beside you. That says everything.”~Ren's blood was boiling.How dare they !?Talking about Ayase like that.He was about to post a dangerous message through his own account but Takeshi stopped him.Ayase wasn't answering his texts, he was worried.He felt the old version of himself coming back.The grumpy and ready to break someone version.After a few hours of giving the cold shoulder to Takeshi, he was finally allowed to see Ayase.~Ayase didn’t remember falling asleep.She only remembered the headache, the fever, and Kana forcing her into bed with a stern look.Day off. No arguments.The doorbell rang.She ignored it.Then a knock.“Ayase?”Her heart skipped.She opened the door slowly.Ren stood there, mask on, a paper bag in his hands.“You shouldn’t be standing,” he said immediately.She laughed weakly. “Neither should you be here.”He held up the bag.“I brought soup. And… something else.”Inside was a small box.Ayase hesitated.“I didn’t want to wait,” Ren said quietly. “Not after everything.”She opened it.A simple bracelet. Silver. Subtle.“I’m not asking you to hide anymore,” he continued. “Or to protect me.”He met her eyes.“I want to be with you. Publicly. Properly.”Her breath trembled.“Aren’t you scared?”“I am,” he admitted. “But not of this.”Ayase smiled, tears slipping free.“Then… stay.”He helped her back to the couch.Their hands intertwined naturally.“No more silence,” Ren said.“No more,” she echoed.~Haru was surprised to see the great Ren Ichinose in the kitchen doing the dishes.Souta thought he was a kind robber.Then Ayase gathered them in the living room.Souta was cross-legged on the floor.Haru leaned against the wall, arms crossed.Ren sat politely, hands on his knees.Too polite.“There’s something we need to tell you,” Ayase said.Souta’s eyes lit up. “Are we moving? Are we getting a dog?”“No,” she laughed. “It’s about Ren.”Haru’s gaze sharpened.Ren spoke first. “I’m… dating your sister.”Silence.Souta gasped.“WAIT—LIKE ACTUALLY?”Ayase nodded.Souta jumped up. “I KNEW IT!”Haru sighed. “You know nothing.”Ren bowed slightly. “I’ll be serious about this.”Haru studied him.“Are you going to disappear?”Ren didn’t hesitate. “No.”That answer mattered.Haru exhaled. “Then don’t make her cry.”“I won’t.”Souta stared at Ren, squinting.“So… you’re famous and nice?”Ren blinked. “I try.”Souta nodded solemnly. “Okay. You can date her.”Ayase laughed through tears.Haru turned away, hiding a smile.“…Just don’t steal the remote.” Souta addedRen smiled softly.“I promise.”End of chapter 36