The soft hum of the apartment settled over us, the warm, dim glow from the living room lamp reflecting off the rain still trickling down the windows. After coming in from the storm, everything had a different feel—a coziness I hadn’t noticed before, like we’d slipped into a small world of our own.

After I finished a call, letting my parents know that I'm staying over at a friend's place, Haruki handed me a towel and gestured toward the hallway. “You should probably dry off… and I, um, have some clothes you can borrow, if you want?”

I nodded, nerves fluttering at the thought of wearing his clothes. "Thank you."

He pointed me to the bathroom, and I ducked inside, grateful for the chance to catch my breath. After a quick shower, I pulled on the oversized T-shirt and sweats he’d left me. His scent lingered faintly on the fabric, and I had to take a steadying breath before heading back out.

When I returned, Haruki was fussing around the kitchen, pulling out a box of tea. He looked up and froze when he saw me, his eyes widening slightly.

“Uh, the clothes fit okay?”

I nodded, suddenly self-conscious. "They're fine. Comfortable."

We shared an awkward chuckle, both of us probably realizing how surreal it felt. I glanced around, searching for something to ease the silence. My eyes landed on a small notebook and pen resting on the coffee table, an idea forming.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound casual, “what if we do a drawing challenge?”

Haruki perked up, a small smile breaking through his nervousness. “A drawing challenge?”

“Yeah, it could be fun… like a way to pass the time?”

He nodded, grabbing a few extra pens and handing one to me. “I’m warning you—I’m not much of an artist.”

“That’s okay. It’s just for fun.” I grinned, feeling my nerves start to fade as we settled on the floor, facing each other.

I drew a line down the middle of the notebook and tapped my pen against my chin. “Alright, first thing… draw your favorite animal.”

Haruki laughed under his breath. “Prepare to be amazed,” he said, diving into the challenge.

Minutes later, we both held up our drawings, giggling at the scribbled mess of lines. Haruki’s attempt at a cat looked like it was either melting or just very, very tired. My rabbit wasn’t much better, but the silliness of it had us laughing to the point of tears.

“Okay, now it’s your turn to pick,” I said, catching my breath.

Haruki thought for a second, then smirked, holding up the pen dramatically. “Self-portrait. Let’s see how badly we fail at this one.”

I rolled my eyes, but played along, sketching my best impression of my own face. Our laughter filled the room again as we swapped drawings, admiring how we’d somehow managed to make ourselves look like cartoons.

As the laughter faded, a comfortable silence settled between us. I looked up to find Haruki watching me, a faint smile lingering on his face.

“Want to play something else?” he asked softly. His voice was steady, but his eyes had that same nervous spark I felt fluttering inside me.

“Sure. Like what?”

He hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “How about… a question game?”

I swallowed, nodding. It felt more personal, but that was probably what made it exciting.

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Haruki seemed to consider his first question, his gaze falling to the notebook in his lap. “What’s… your happiest memory?”

I froze, a blush rising to my cheeks as an answer sprang to mind—every moment with him. But I couldn’t say that. Not yet.

“Hm, I’d say… whenever I’m with people who make me feel at home,” I replied, hoping he wouldn’t catch the unspoken meaning. “What about you?”

He paused, his expression softening. “It used to be times with my mom, when she’d read to me. But now… I think it’s right now. Here with you.”

The silence stretched, and I felt my heart pounding, almost painfully loud. He leaned closer, his gaze intent, as if he wanted to say something else. My breath caught, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. But he seemed to think better of it, pulling back with a shy smile.

“Uh… we could make something to eat?” he suggested, breaking the moment with a sheepish chuckle.

I nodded, both relieved and slightly disappointed, but I followed him to the kitchen, where we rummaged through his cabinets for ingredients. We found some pasta and began cooking together, our arms brushing occasionally as we moved around each other in the small space. It was strange how intimate it felt, each touch sending little sparks through me.

When we finally sat down to eat, the lights flickered, and we both froze. Then, just as quickly, they went out, plunging us into darkness.

Haruki reached for his phone, turning on the flashlight. He pointed it up, casting a soft, warm glow around us. “Looks like we’ll be dining by flashlight.”

We laughed, and he started humming a tune to fill the quiet. There was something magical about it, like we were sharing a secret only we knew.

After we finished eating, we returned to the living room, curling up under a blanket as the storm raged outside. The question game started up again, but this time, it was quieter, each answer leading us deeper into conversation.

Haruki seemed to think for a moment, then looked at me, his expression serious but warm. “If you could share one thing about yourself, something you keep hidden, what would it be?”

My heart skipped, the question hitting closer than he probably intended. I felt the truth hovering just beneath the surface, a feeling I hadn’t dared to put into words.

As I opened my mouth, the words spilled out before I could catch them. “I guess… I’m scared of letting people close because I feel like I might lose them.” I glanced down, my cheeks heating, the weight of my confession settling around us.

Haruki’s gaze was steady, searching mine, and suddenly I couldn’t help but add, “Especially if they mean a lot to me.”

Realizing what I’d just said, I froze, my heart racing as the implications hit me. The silence stretched, the atmosphere thick with unspoken feelings. My breath caught, the admission lingering between us like a fragile thread.

Haruki's expression changed as he absorbed my words, surprise flickering across his face. For a heartbeat, we held each other’s gaze, the weight of the moment hanging heavy between us. I could feel my heart racing, a mix of anxiety and hope swirling inside me.

“I—uh…” I stumbled over my thoughts, feeling exposed. “I didn’t mean to say that. I just—”

“No, it’s okay,” he interrupted gently, his voice soft. “I get it. Losing people is hard.”

The sincerity in his tone caught me off guard. I nodded, feeling a strange relief wash over me. “It just makes me feel vulnerable, you know? Like I want to protect what’s important.”

“Yeah,” he replied, leaning a little closer. “I think about that too.”

The moment lingered, our shared understanding wrapping around us like a warm blanket. “Haruki,” I started, unsure of where to go from here. “You mean a lot to me.”

His eyes widened slightly, and for a second, I thought he might say something profound. Instead, he smiled softly, that boyish grin making my stomach flutter. “You mean a lot to me too, Aki. More than I can say.”

The vulnerability in his words made my heart swell, and suddenly, everything felt more significant—our laughter, the drawing challenge, even the quiet moments.

Before I could dwell too long on my feelings, another loud crack of thunder shook the apartment, and I laughed nervously. “Looks like the storm doesn’t want us to get too serious.”

Haruki chuckled, relief evident in his eyes. “Yeah, let’s distract ourselves.” He picked up his phone, still glowing softly in the dimness. “How about we finish our blanket fort?”

I grinned, grateful for the lightness he brought back. As we crawled into the fort, the tension slowly faded, replaced by the thrill of being together in our little hideaway.

We spent the next while giggling and decorating our fortress, the playful banter flowing freely between us.

As we lay there, time ticking by, the warmth of Haruki’s presence beside me lulled me into a comfortable state of relaxation. I could hear his breathing gradually slow, a soft rhythm that filled the cozy blanket fort. I turned my head slightly to look at him, the gentle glow from his phone casting a faint light across his face.

He looked so peaceful, his features relaxed and calm in sleep. I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable he appeared, with a few strands of hair falling over his forehead. A warmth spread through my chest as I watched him, my thoughts drifting. This moment felt like something out of a dream, and I realized how much he meant to me.

Lying there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between us. My heart raced as I thought about how close we’d become, how easily we connected. The realization struck me hard—I was falling for him. The truth hit me like a wave, overwhelming yet exhilarating. I had grown so fond of him, of the way he made me feel, the way he listened and understood.

Caught in that moment, I felt a surge of affection. Unable to resist, I leaned in closer, my heart pounding in my ears. He looked so vulnerable and sweet, and before I could talk myself out of it, I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. It was a gentle, fleeting touch, but it felt monumental, like a promise of what was blossoming between us.

Pulling back, I held my breath, half-expecting him to stir, but he remained blissfully asleep. A flutter of nerves danced in my stomach as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling both exhilarated and terrified by what I had just done.

I settled back down beside him, my heart racing as I let the warmth of the moment wash over me.

But as I lay there, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would navigate these feelings moving forward. It felt like standing at the edge of a precipice, with the wind beckoning me to take a leap. What did it mean to feel this way about someone? The prospect of letting Haruki into my life—truly letting him in—scared me. I’d built walls to protect myself, and now those walls felt both comforting and suffocating.

I knew that if I wanted this connection to grow, I’d have to confront my fears. I had to be brave enough to show him my true self. But what if he didn’t feel the same? What if I ended up losing him, just like I feared? The thought made my heart ache.

Yet, as I looked at Haruki, the peacefulness etched on his face, I felt a flicker of hope. He was different—gentle and kind, and he understood me in a way no one else ever had. Maybe it was worth the risk. Maybe love was about embracing vulnerability and sharing that weight with someone who truly cared.

With that thought wrapping around me like a soft blanket, I closed my eyes and let the storm outside fade into the background. I knew that no matter what lay ahead, I would face it one step at a time, and with Haruki by my side, maybe I wouldn’t have to face it alone.