The sunlight seeped through the thin curtains of the shared apartment, casting a warm glow on the wooden floor. Airi was already up, standing in the kitchen in her signature morning attire—a tidy apron over a casual outfit—as she prepared breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread filled the air.

Meanwhile, Izuna was still fast asleep in his room, sprawled across his bed in a disheveled heap. His alarm had gone off three times already, but he managed to hit the snooze button every time without fully waking up.

Airi, ever the punctual one, glanced at the clock. It was 8:15 AM, and she knew Izuna had a meeting at 9. With a sigh, she poured a glass of orange juice and marched to his door.

“Hey, Izuna!” she called, knocking sharply. “It’s already 8:15! You’re going to be late again!”

No response.

Airi frowned, opened the door slightly, and peeked in. She was greeted by the sight of Izuna, still dead to the world, snoring softly. His blanket was tangled around his legs, and one arm dangled off the side of the bed.

With a deep sigh, Airi walked over and nudged his shoulder. “Izuna Kyouhei, wake up! You’re going to miss your meeting!”

Izuna groaned, turning over to face her with half-lidded eyes. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled.

“Five more minutes?” Airi repeated incredulously. “Do you know how many ‘five minutes’ you’ve already had?” She reached for the blanket and yanked it off him.

“Hey!” Izuna yelped, now fully awake. “What’s the big idea?”

“The big idea,” Airi said, crossing her arms, “is that you have a meeting in less than 45 minutes, and you’re still lying here like it’s a Sunday afternoon!”

Izuna rubbed his eyes and sat up, his hair sticking out in all directions. “Alright, alright, I’m up. No need to go full drill sergeant on me.”

Airi rolled her eyes and left the room. “Breakfast is on the table. Hurry up before it gets cold.”

By the time Izuna stumbled into the kitchen, Airi was already seated, sipping her coffee and reading something on her tablet. Izuna plopped down across from her and grabbed a piece of toast.

“Thanks for the wake-up call,” he said, his tone sarcastic but with a hint of gratitude.

“Don’t mention it,” Airi replied dryly. “Literally. Don’t mention it. If you just woke up on time, I wouldn’t have to deal with this every other day.”

Izuna grinned, taking a bite of his toast. “But then who would annoy you in the mornings? You’d miss me, admit it.”

Airi didn’t even look up from her tablet. “You overestimate your charm.”

Despite her words, Izuna caught the faintest smile on her lips.

As they finished their breakfast, the familiar rhythm of their banter filled the apartment, setting the tone for another day of their unique, chaotic companionship.

It was a typical bustling morning at Izuna’s freelance workspace—a shared office where other creative professionals rented desks to work on their projects. The place had an energetic buzz, with the sound of keyboards clacking, coffee machines hissing, and occasional laughter from groups of co-workers huddled together.

Izuna strolled in, a few minutes late as usual, his laptop bag slung casually over his shoulder. Ren Kirayuu, his closest colleague and partner in procrastination, waved him over from their shared desk.

“You’re late, as always,” Ren said with a smirk, spinning his chair around. His perfectly styled hair and crisp outfit made him look far more professional than Izuna ever aimed to be.

“Good morning to you too, Mr. Perfect Attendance,” Izuna replied, dropping into his chair. “Traffic was a nightmare.”

“Uh-huh. Traffic from your bedroom to the front door?” Ren teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Something like that,” Izuna said with a grin, booting up his laptop.

As they settled into work, Ren leaned closer, clearly eager to chat. “So, how’s the ‘roommate experiment’ going? Still driving each other crazy?”

Izuna leaned back, stretching. “You have no idea. Airi’s like this unshakable force of organization. Everything has to be labelled, timed, and cleaned. It’s like living with a military drill instructor.”

Ren laughed. “Sounds like she’s got her act together. You could probably use a bit of that.”

“Don’t even start,” Izuna said, shaking his head. “But, to be fair... she’s not all bad. She can be kind of fun when she lets her guard down.”

Ren gave him a sly look. “Fun, huh? Sounds like someone’s warming up to their roommate.”

“Don’t twist my words,” Izuna shot back, trying to sound annoyed but failing to hide a small smile.

Meanwhile, across town at Airi’s start-up office, she was seated at her desk, meticulously typing away at a report. Her colleague and best friend, Athena Fujisawa, popped her head over the cubicle wall.

“Hey, Airi, lunch break soon?” Athena asked, her voice chipper as always.

“Give me five minutes to finish this,” Airi replied without looking up.

Athena leaned on the cubicle wall, her mischievous grin suggesting she had no intention of waiting quietly. “So... how’s living with your ‘accidental roommate’? Still a walking disaster?”

Airi paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. “He’s... manageable, I guess. When he’s not leaving his socks everywhere or forgetting to take out the trash.”

Athena chuckled. “That’s it? No dramatic fights? No romantic tension?”

Airi’s cheeks reddened slightly. “What? No! It’s not like that. He’s just... Izuna.”

Athena raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me this guy who’s apparently a total mess hasn’t done anything remotely cute or endearing?”

Airi hesitated, recalling the other day when Izuna had casually handed her a cup of tea after noticing she looked tired. Or the time he made her laugh so hard she nearly spilled her coffee.

“I... guess he has his moments,” she admitted reluctantly.

Athena gasped dramatically. “Airi Shinonome, is that a compliment I just heard?”

“Don’t make it weird,” Airi muttered, turning back to her report.

“Too late,” Athena teased. “But seriously, it sounds like you’re getting along better than I expected. Maybe living with him won’t be so bad after all.”

Airi didn’t respond, but her faint smile didn’t go unnoticed.

As the workday progressed, both Izuna and Airi found themselves thinking about their conversations with their friends, wondering just how much their “accidental living arrangement” was starting to feel a lot less accidental.

By mid-afternoon, Izuna was deep into his freelance work, sketching concepts for a client’s advertisement campaign. Ren, as usual, had wandered off for another coffee break, leaving Izuna alone at their desk. He leaned back in his chair, staring at his half-finished design. Something about it wasn’t clicking.

Just as he was about to scrap the entire idea, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Airi.

Airi asked, “Hey, quick question. Do you know anyone who can create a custom graphic for a marketing pitch? It’s urgent.”

Izuna smirked. He could practically hear the reluctance in her text.

Izuna replied, “I might know a guy. What’s in it for me?”

The reply came almost instantly.

Airi replied, “Not dealing with your messy habits for a week. Take it or leave it.”

Izuna chuckled, texting back.

Izuna said, “Deal. Send me the details.”

Within minutes, Airi emailed him the project brief. It was for a major client at her start-up—a sleek, minimalist design to complement a new product launch. Izuna reviewed the notes, his creative gears already turning.

That evening, Airi arrived home to find Izuna at the dining table, laptop open and sketches spread across the surface.

“Working hard, I see,” she said, setting her bag down.

Izuna glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “I take my trades seriously. A whole week of no nagging? Worth the effort.”

Airi rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. She sat down across from him, pulling out her own laptop.

“Let me see what you’ve got so far,” she said, leaning over to look at his screen.

Izuna turned the laptop toward her. “Don’t hold back on the criticism. I know you love pointing out flaws.”

Airi ignored the jab and examined his work carefully. “It’s good,” she admitted, “but the typography could be cleaner. And maybe tone down the colours a bit—this client prefers subtle palettes.”

Izuna nodded, jotting down her suggestions. “Noted. Anything else, boss?”

Airi hesitated, then added, “You might want to incorporate more negative space. It’ll give the design a more modern feel.”

“Negative space, huh?” Izuna mused. “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

For the next hour, the two of them worked side by side, bouncing ideas off each other. It was surprisingly smooth—Airi’s structured approach balanced Izuna’s creative spontaneity.

At one point, Airi caught herself smiling as Izuna enthusiastically explained a concept he’d just come up with. She shook her head, amused by his passion.

“What?” Izuna asked, noticing her expression.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “It’s just... you’re not as hopeless as you look.”

Izuna grinned. “High praise coming from you.”

By the time they wrapped up, the design was polished and ready to go. Airi looked at the final product and nodded in approval.

“This might actually impress the client,” she said.

Izuna stretched, leaning back in his chair. “You mean we might impress the client. Admit it—I saved your project.”

“Fine,” Airi said with a mock sigh. “You did a good job. Happy?”

“Very,” Izuna replied, smirking.

As they cleaned up, Airi couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Maybe working with Izuna wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

The next day, Airi was on edge. The marketing team had a critical meeting with their client to present the new campaign materials. As she paced in the office conference room, her colleague Athena Fujisawa tried to calm her down.

“Airi, relax,” Athena said, sipping her coffee. “You’ve done this a hundred times.”

“This isn’t just any presentation, Athena,” Airi replied. “This client is a major account. If we mess this up, it could ruin our reputation.”

Athena smirked. “If by ‘we,’ you mean ‘you,’ then yes, it’s all on your shoulders.”

Airi shot her a glare, but before she could retort, the door opened, and Izuna strolled in, laptop bag slung over his shoulder.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said cheerfully, completely unbothered by the tension in the room.

Airi crossed her arms. “You’re late.”

Izuna checked his watch. “I’m two minutes early, actually.”

Athena chuckled, clearly enjoying their dynamic. “So, you’re the genius behind the design Airi’s been raving about?”

Airi immediately stiffened. “I wasn’t raving—”

“Absolutely,” Izuna interrupted, grinning. “Glad to know my talents are being appreciated.”

Before Airi could snap back, their boss, Mr. Tanaka, entered the room with the client. Everyone quickly took their seats, and the presentation began.

Airi started off strong, walking the client through the strategy and key objectives of the campaign. She was confident, articulate, and completely in control—until it was time to showcase the visuals.

She turned to Izuna, signalling him to take over.

Izuna stood up, connecting his laptop to the projector. “Alright, let’s dive into the fun part,” he said, flashing his signature casual smile.

As he navigated through the slides, he explained the creative choices behind each design. His presentation style was relaxed but engaging, a stark contrast to Airi’s formal demeanor. The client, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, seemed intrigued.

“I like the balance of simplicity and sophistication,” the client said, nodding at one of the designs. “But what inspired the use of negative space here?”

Izuna glanced at Airi, smirking slightly. “Well, my brilliant collaborator here suggested it. I have to admit, she was right—it really makes the design pop.”

Airi blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected Izuna to give her credit, let alone in such a flattering way.

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The client smiled. “It’s good to see teamwork at its finest. I’m impressed.”

As the presentation continued, the mood in the room lightened. By the end, the client was thoroughly satisfied, and Mr. Tanaka gave Airi and Izuna an approving nod.

After the meeting, Airi and Izuna stepped out of the conference room together.

“You did well,” Airi said reluctantly.

“I know,” Izuna replied, grinning. “But thanks for saying it anyway.”

Airi rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips.

As they walked back to their desks, Athena caught up to them, a teasing glint in her eye.

“You two make quite the team,” she said. “Who knew chaos and control could work so well together?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Airi muttered.

Izuna laughed. “Too late—I’m already planning our next collaboration.”

Airi groaned, but deep down, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Maybe working with Izuna wasn’t just tolerable—it was actually kind of fun.

Later that day, the office buzzed with energy. The successful presentation had put everyone in high spirits, and Mr. Tanaka even ordered pizza for the team to celebrate.

Airi sat at her desk, reviewing emails while occasionally glancing at the stack of untouched papers she still had to tackle. Across the room, Izuna was leaning back in his chair, effortlessly chatting with Athena and Takumi.

“Do you ever actually work?” Airi called out, unable to resist the jab.

Izuna turned, grinning. “Work smarter, not harder, Airi. I already submitted my designs for the next campaign.”

Airi narrowed her eyes. “How?”

“Simple,” he said, spinning his chair toward her. “I stayed late last night. Unlike you, who probably spent the evening organizing your spice rack.”

Airi flushed. “For your information, I was preparing the presentation while you were… doing whatever it is you do at night.”

“Gaming and saving the world,” he replied without missing a beat. “But seriously, you should relax a little. The presentation went great, and the client loved it. Celebrate the win.”

Before Airi could argue, Athena appeared at her desk, holding a slice of pizza.

“He’s right, you know,” Athena said, sitting on the edge of Airi’s desk. “You’ve been working non-stop for weeks. Take a break for once.”

Airi sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I just don’t want to fall behind. There’s always something else to do.”

“True,” Athena said. “But you’re more productive when you’re not running on fumes. Besides, you should celebrate the fact that you managed to work with Izuna without strangling him.”

Airi glanced at Izuna, who was now juggling two stress balls while Takumi cheered him on. “It’s a miracle, honestly.”

As the team continued their impromptu celebration, Airi felt a rare sense of ease. She wasn’t used to letting her guard down, but something about today felt different. Maybe it was the relief of the presentation being over, or the unexpected teamwork with Izuna.

Or maybe, she thought begrudgingly, Izuna wasn’t as insufferable as she’d initially believed.

At that moment, Izuna walked over, holding a slice of pizza in one hand and a soda in the other.

“Here,” he said, setting the soda on her desk. “A peace offering for all the times I’ve annoyed you today.”

Airi raised an eyebrow. “Just today?”

“Alright, for all the times I’ve annoyed you ever,” he amended, grinning.

Airi took the soda, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks. And… good job today.”

“Wow,” Izuna said, feigning shock. “Was that a compliment? From Airi Shinonome?”

“Don’t push your luck,” she replied, but her tone was light.

As the office buzzed around them, Airi realized something surprising. For the first time in a long while, she wasn’t focused on her to-do list or her next big task. She was just… enjoying the moment.

And, to her surprise, it wasn’t so bad.

The evening crept closer, and most of the team had left the office after the celebratory pizza party. Airi sat at her desk, the soft hum of the air conditioning filling the now-quiet room. She glanced at the clock—7:30 PM.

“Still here?”

The familiar voice broke her concentration, and she looked up to see Izuna leaning against her desk. He had his bag slung over his shoulder, his jacket tucked under his arm.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Airi replied, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

Izuna shrugged. “I was heading out, but I noticed your desk lamp was still on. Thought I’d check if you needed anything—or if you’ve finally merged with your desk.”

Airi rolled her eyes. “Very funny. I’m just finishing up a few things.”

Izuna looked at her screen, then at the untouched slice of pizza still on her desk. “You know, if you don’t eat that soon, it’s going to become a fossil.”

“I’ll eat it later,” Airi muttered, turning back to her work.

Izuna pulled up a chair and sat down, spinning slightly as he did. “You’re always ‘finishing up’ something. Do you ever just stop and breathe?”

“I breathe just fine, thank you,” she replied, her tone defensive.

He leaned back, crossing his arms. “You know, for someone who’s so obsessed with control, you don’t seem to control your work-life balance very well.”

Airi paused, his words hitting a little too close to home. “What’s your point?”

“My point is,” Izuna said, leaning forward, “you’re allowed to take a break. The world won’t end if you leave a few things for tomorrow.”

Airi hesitated. Part of her wanted to brush off his comment, but another part of her knew he was right.

“I’m not like you, Izuna,” she said finally. “I can’t just wing it and hope for the best.”

“Who says I’m winging it?” he asked, a hint of seriousness in his tone.

Airi looked at him, genuinely surprised.

“I may look like I’m carefree, but I work hard too,” Izuna continued. “I just don’t let it consume me. Life’s too short to spend it chained to a desk.”

Airi stared at her screen, his words echoing in her mind. She’d always prided herself on her work ethic, but when was the last time she’d done something just for herself?

“Fine,” she said abruptly, closing her laptop. “I’m leaving.”

Izuna blinked. “Wait, seriously?”

“Yes, seriously,” she said, standing up and grabbing her bag. “You said it yourself—life’s too short, right?”

A slow grin spread across his face. “Well, look at that. I’m a miracle worker.”

“Don’t push it,” Airi warned, but her tone was light.

As they walked out of the office together, the city lights twinkling outside, Airi felt an unfamiliar sense of freedom. Maybe, just maybe, she could learn to let go—at least a little.

And as much as she hated to admit it, she had Izuna to thank for that.

As Airi and Izuna exited the office building, the cool night breeze greeted them. The city was alive with its usual energy—cars honking, people chatting, and neon signs lighting up the streets.

“I didn’t expect you to actually listen to me,” Izuna teased, slipping his hands into his pockets as they walked toward the station.

“Don’t get used to it,” Airi shot back, her bag slung over her shoulder.

They reached the corner where their paths usually split—Airi heading right toward her subway line, and Izuna going left to the bus stop.

“Guess this is where we—” Izuna started, but his words were interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Yo, Izuna! Airi!”

Both turned to see Athena and Takumi standing in front of a brightly lit ramen shop. Takumi held up two bowls of steaming noodles as if presenting a trophy, while Athena waved enthusiastically.

“What are you two doing here?” Airi asked, surprised.

“Grabbing a late-night dinner,” Athena said. “What about you guys? Did you just finish working?”

Izuna grinned. “Yeah, but I convinced Airi to leave the office for once. A major achievement, if I do say so myself.”

Airi rolled her eyes. “Don’t make it sound like I never leave.”

“You kinda don’t,” Takumi said with a smirk. “But hey, since you’re already out, why not join us? This place has the best ramen in the city.”

Airi hesitated, glancing at her watch. It was late, and she had planned to head straight home. But the inviting aroma of the ramen and the casual warmth of her co-workers made her pause.

“She’s thinking about it,” Izuna said, nudging her lightly. “That’s progress.”

“Fine,” Airi relented, earning a cheer from Athena.

They stepped into the ramen shop, where the cozy atmosphere immediately enveloped them. The walls were adorned with hand-written notes from customers, and the soft hum of jazz music played in the background.

As they sat down, Izuna and Takumi launched into a debate about which toppings made the best ramen, while Athena tried to drag Airi into the conversation.

“What’s your go-to, Airi?” Athena asked, her chopsticks hovering over her bowl.

“Um… I usually just get the basic miso ramen,” Airi admitted.

“Miso?!” Izuna exclaimed, feigning shock. “That’s so boring!”

“It’s classic,” Airi defended, narrowing her eyes at him.

“It’s safe,” Izuna countered with a smirk.

Airi opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. Instead, she grabbed a piece of tempura from his bowl without asking and popped it into her mouth.

“Hey!” Izuna protested, though he was laughing.

The banter continued as they ate, the four of them sharing stories and jokes late into the night. By the time they left the shop, Airi felt lighter than she had in weeks.

As they all headed in their respective directions, Athena gave Airi a knowing look.

“You should do this more often,” she said softly. “It suits you.”

Airi didn’t reply, but she couldn’t help smiling as she walked toward the station. Maybe letting loose every now and then wasn’t so bad after all.

And, though she’d never admit it, spending time with Izuna wasn’t the worst thing in the world either.

When Airi got home that night, the apartment was unusually quiet. She slipped off her shoes, dropped her bag by the door, and headed straight to the kitchen. She needed something to wind down after the unexpectedly fun evening.

Flicking on the kettle, she pulled out her favorite mug and a box of chamomile tea. As she waited for the water to boil, her mind replayed the events of the night—the jokes, the laughter, and even Izuna’s endless teasing.

Her lips curled into a small smile.

“Who would’ve thought,” she muttered to herself, pouring hot water into the mug.

Just as she sat down at the small dining table, the door to Izuna’s room creaked open. He emerged, looking half-asleep, his hair a dishevelled mess.

“You’re back late,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

“You’re one to talk,” Airi shot back. “What are you doing up?”

“I was napping,” Izuna said, stretching. “Then I smelled tea. Got any left?”

Airi sighed but stood up to make him a cup. “I didn’t think you were the tea type.”

“I’m not,” he admitted, leaning against the counter. “But I figured it might help me sleep.”

As she handed him the mug, he took a seat across from her at the table.

“So,” he began, blowing on the tea. “Fun night?”

“It was fine,” Airi replied curtly, though her tone lacked its usual edge.

“Just fine?” Izuna smirked. “Athena seemed pretty happy to see you out and about. And you were actually smiling. A rare sight, I might add.”

Airi gave him a withering look. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

Izuna chuckled, taking a sip of tea. “Hey, I’m just saying it’s nice to see you loosen up a bit. You’re always so… rigid.”

“I’m not rigid,” Airi protested, though she could feel her cheeks heating up.

“You literally have a schedule for everything,” Izuna teased. “Even your weekends are color-coded on the fridge.”

Airi crossed her arms. “At least I’m organized. Unlike someone who can’t even keep track of his own socks.”

“Touché,” Izuna admitted, grinning.

The two lapsed into a comfortable silence, the hum of the refrigerator filling the room.

After a while, Izuna spoke again, his tone more serious. “You know, you should let yourself have more nights like this. Life’s more fun when you’re not trying to control everything.”

Airi stared into her tea, his words striking a chord she didn’t want to acknowledge.

“I’ll think about it,” she said finally, her voice soft.

Izuna smiled, raising his mug in a mock toast. “Good enough for me.”

As the night wore on, they talked about everything and nothing—work, hobbies, random observations about life in the city. For once, there was no bickering, no teasing, just an easy, genuine conversation.

By the time they both went to bed, Airi felt a strange sense of contentment. Living with Izuna was chaotic, sure, but maybe it wasn’t as bad as she’d first thought.

The next morning, Airi woke up to the sound of clanging pots and a rhythmic humming. She groggily opened her eyes, glanced at her clock, and frowned.

“It’s Saturday… Why is it so noisy?” she mumbled.

Throwing on a cardigan, she shuffled out of her room and followed the noise to the kitchen. There she found Izuna, clad in an apron over his casual clothes, flipping pancakes with exaggerated flair.

“What are you doing?” Airi asked, her voice still heavy with sleep.

“Good morning to you too, Miss Grumpy,” Izuna quipped without turning around. “I’m making breakfast.”

Airi blinked, surprised. “Why?”

“Because I felt like it,” he replied nonchalantly. “You seemed in a good mood last night, so I thought I’d keep the positive vibes going. Plus, you’re always saying my cooking isn’t up to your standards. Consider this an effort to prove you wrong.”

Airi leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “Well, I’d be more impressed if you didn’t leave the kitchen looking like a disaster zone.”

Izuna glanced around at the mess—flour dusting the counter, a sticky spot of batter on the stove, and a trail of syrup leading to the sink. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

“Details, details,” he said. “It’s the result that counts.”

“Sure, if the result isn’t food poisoning,” Airi shot back, though there was a trace of amusement in her tone.

Izuna flipped the last pancake onto a plate and turned to her with a triumphant grin. “I’ll have you know these are gourmet-level pancakes. Try one, and you’ll never go back to your boring oatmeal.”

Airi sighed but grabbed a plate and sat at the table. She cautiously cut into the pancake and took a bite. To her surprise, it was… good.

“Well?” Izuna asked, leaning over the counter expectantly.

“It’s… edible,” Airi said with a smirk, just to mess with him.

Izuna groaned dramatically. “You wound me, Airi. Just admit they’re amazing.”

“They’re fine,” she admitted after another bite. “But the mess isn’t worth it.”

Izuna grinned, taking that as a victory. He joined her at the table, stacking pancakes on his plate like a tower.

“So,” he began between bites, “what’s the plan for today?”

“I was thinking of cleaning,” Airi said, eyeing the kitchen pointedly.

“Ugh, cleaning,” Izuna groaned. “You’re really not one for taking it easy, are you?”

“I like things in order,” Airi replied matter-of-factly.

“Well, don’t spend all day on it,” Izuna said. “Athena texted me last night about grabbing lunch later. She said you should come too.”

Airi hesitated. Normally, she’d decline and stick to her weekend routine, but something about the idea of another relaxed outing was… tempting.

“I’ll think about it,” she said finally.

Izuna smirked. “Progress.”

They finished breakfast amidst light banter, the messy kitchen forgotten for the moment. As Airi went to start cleaning, she caught herself smiling again.

Living with Izuna was messy, unpredictable, and often infuriating—but it was also starting to feel like something she might actually enjoy.

Later that afternoon, Airi found herself standing in front of her mirror, frowning at her reflection. She’d spent the morning cleaning up the kitchen disaster Izuna had left, but now she was debating whether to join him and Athena for lunch.

“I don’t usually do this,” she muttered, smoothing down her blouse.

It wasn’t that she disliked socializing, but Airi was more comfortable sticking to her structured routines. Stepping outside of that felt… foreign. Still, Athena’s enthusiasm and Izuna’s casual persistence lingered in her mind.

After changing into a simple pastel dress and pulling on a light cardigan, she finally decided to go.

When she stepped out of her room, Izuna was lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up and gave her a once-over, his expression unreadable.

“You look… nice,” he said after a moment, sounding almost surprised.

“Thanks,” Airi replied, trying to ignore the flutter of warmth at the compliment. “Are you ready?”

Izuna grinned, standing up and grabbing his jacket. “Always. Let’s go before Athena starts spamming me.”

The two made their way to the café where they were meeting Athena. The walk was peppered with their usual back-and-forth banter, but there was an ease between them that felt new.

When they arrived, Athena was already waiting at an outdoor table, waving enthusiastically.

“There you are!” she exclaimed, standing to greet them. “Airi, I’m so glad you came!”

Airi gave a small smile as Athena pulled her into a friendly hug.

The lunch started off light, with Athena dominating the conversation as usual, her bubbly personality filling any gaps. She teased Izuna mercilessly, which Airi found oddly entertaining.

“So,” Athena said after a while, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. “How’s the cohabitation going? Any dramatic blow-ups I should know about?”

Izuna smirked. “Surprisingly, she hasn’t murdered me yet. I’d call that a win.”

Airi rolled her eyes. “It’s tolerable. Though someone still doesn’t understand the concept of cleaning as you go.”

Athena laughed, clapping her hands. “You two sound like an old married couple already.”

Both Airi and Izuna stiffened at the comment, exchanging a glance before quickly looking away.

“It’s not like that,” Airi said hastily, focusing on her plate.

“Sure, sure,” Athena teased, winking.

The conversation shifted to work and random city gossip, and Airi found herself relaxing. The warm sun, the laughter, and the sense of belonging felt nice—almost unfamiliar, but in a good way.

As they walked home later, Izuna nudged her lightly. “See? Not so bad, right?”

Airi shrugged, but her lips curved into a faint smile. “It was… okay.”

Izuna chuckled. “I’ll take that.”

By the time they reached the apartment, Airi felt a quiet sense of contentment. Living with Izuna was still chaotic, but maybe, just maybe, she was starting to enjoy the unpredictability.

As she settled in for the evening, she realized that small steps like today could lead to something bigger—new connections, new experiences, and perhaps, even a new perspective on life.