The soft glow of the laptop screen illuminated the dimly lit room, casting a bluish hue over the scattered notes and empty coffee cups strewn across the desk.
Outside, the city pulsed with life, but inside, the air was thick with quiet exhaustion and an undercurrent of something else—something unspoken.
It was already past 9 PM when Ayaka finally exhaled, leaning back in her chair, fingers trembling slightly as she hovered over the send button.
The manuscript—the one they'd poured months of sleepless nights and relentless revisions into—was finally complete.
"Alright." she breathed, glancing up at Akihiko, who sat across from her, his silver hair reflecting the screen's light like strands of moonlight. "I'm going to send this for proofreading."
She expected a simple nod, maybe a cool remark of approval.
Instead, Akihiko shifted, his deep blue eyes locking onto hers with a look that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Wait." he said, his voice smooth, unhurried. "There's something I want to change."
Ayaka blinked, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard. "What is it?"
Akihiko leaned back against the couch, his arm draped over the backrest with casual elegance. "I want to use our first names for the lead characters."
The words hit her like a jolt of electricity.
"W-what?!" Her face turned an alarming shade of red as she whipped around to face him. "D-don't be ridiculous! It'll be too obvious!"
Akihiko's expression remained unreadable, but there was an unmistakable gleam in his eyes. "It's not like we're the only ones named Akihiko and Ayaka in the world." His voice was maddeningly calm.
"Yeah, but..." Ayaka sputtered, shaking her head. "I'd have to revise the entire story! The flow, the dialogue—everything!"
"Then revise it." he said smoothly, tilting his head slightly as if amused by her flustered state.
Ayaka clenched her jaw. "I refuse."
Silence stretched between them for a moment, crackling with tension. Then, without warning, Akihiko moved.
In an instant, he was leaning forward, his arms braced on either side of her chair, effectively trapping her.
The sudden proximity made her breath hitch—his scent, a mix of fresh linen and something unmistakably him, filled her senses.
His voice dropped to a slow, deliberate murmur.
"Do you want me to remind you?" he mused, "What's written in our contract?"
Ayaka swallowed hard. Her heart hammered against her ribs, not from fear—but from something far more dangerous.
'Damn it.' He knew exactly how to get under her skin.
Her fingers curled into fists on her lap as she turned her face away, cheeks burning. "Fine." she muttered through gritted teeth. "Give me an hour or two, and I'll revise the names."
Akihiko chuckled, the sound deep and rich.
He reached up and gently tilted her chin back towards him, his fingers lingering just a second too long.
"Good girl." he murmured, his lips curving into a smirk.
Ayaka nearly combusted on the spot.
With a huff, she yanked her gaze away and refocused on the laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard in defiance.
If she was going to do this, she was going to do it quickly.
But Akihiko wasn't about to make it easy for her.
As soon as she got into a rhythm, he began poking her cheek.
"Poke."
"Akihiko."
"Poke."
"Stop that!"
"I'm bored." he announced, leaning against the desk beside her and stretching lazily. "Hurry up."
Ayaka swatted his hand away. "I'm almost done!"
He grinned but didn't stop. Instead, he moved closer, resting his chin on her shoulder.
His silver hair tickled her skin, and she stiffened as she felt his breath warm against the side of her neck.
"I didn't know the Ice Prince could be this clingy." she muttered under her breath, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened.
Akihiko smirked against her ear. "Only for you."
Her fingers fumbled on the keyboard.
Her entire body was on high alert, but she forced herself to focus, hammering out the last of the revisions while desperately ignoring the heat radiating from the man practically draped over her.
By the time she finished, hours had passed.
The apartment was filled with nothing but the soft hum of the laptop and the occasional sigh from Akihiko as he toyed with the edge of her sleeve.
Finally, Ayaka straightened, stretching her stiff fingers. "Okay." she exhaled, turning to him. "I'll send it now, alright?"
Akihiko met her gaze, his blue eyes reflecting something unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, he gave his silent approval.
"Alright..." she murmured, taking a deep breath. Her finger hovered over the button before finally pressing send.
A quiet beep confirmed the submission.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, realization dawned.
"Done." Ayaka whispered. The word felt foreign. Surreal. "We're actually... finished?"
A slow, satisfied smirk tugged at Akihiko's lips as he watched her expression shift from disbelief to sheer joy.
She shot up from her chair, practically vibrating with excitement. "After months of writing and revising, it's finally done!"
Before she could react, Akihiko reached out and gently patted her head. "You did great."
The praise sent a strange warmth curling in her chest.
She looked up at him, her smile softening. "Now we just wait three days… then it'll be published."
Akihiko studied her for a moment before suddenly reaching for her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers—firm, warm, certain.
Ayaka's breath hitched. "A-Akihiko?"
"I'll treat you to something good that day." he said, his voice low, smooth—almost like a promise.
Her heart stuttered.
The way he said it, the way his thumb subtly traced over her knuckles—it made her head spin.
"I-I'll… look forward to it then." she mumbled, unable to meet his gaze.
Akihiko smirked, squeezing her hand just a little tighter before finally letting go.
The city outside continued its endless rhythm, but inside the small apartment, time felt like it had slowed.
And as Ayaka stood there, feeling the ghost of his touch lingering on her skin, she realized something terrifying.
She wasn't just looking forward to that day.
She was looking forward to him.
------
The apartment was steeped in a comfortable silence, the kind that settled between two people who had spent hours together, lingering like a phantom touch.
The dim glow of the desk lamp softened the sharp edges of the room, casting long shadows over scattered papers, forgotten coffee cups, and the laptop screen that still hummed quietly in the background.
Outside, the city buzzed with life, but inside, time felt like it had slowed to a crawl.
Akihiko stretched, rolling his shoulders as he glanced at the time. It was well past midnight.
"I should go." he murmured, voice smooth but laced with something quieter.
He reached for his coat, the soft rustling breaking the stillness. "I have work tomorrow."
Ayaka, who had been absentmindedly running her fingers along the rim of her coffee cup, immediately stilled.
The words were simple—mundane, even—but for some reason, they sat strangely in her chest.
"You're leaving?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light, unaffected.
Akihiko arched a brow, his lips curving slightly. "That surprises you?"
She quickly shook her head. "No, it's just…" Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup. "I guess I got used to having you here."
Silence.
The air between them shifted, charged with something unnamed.
Akihiko tilted his head, studying her with an unreadable expression. Then, he took a step closer.
"Oh?" His voice was a slow drawl, teasing. "Does that mean you'll miss me?"
Ayaka felt the heat rush to her face. She turned away quickly. "D-don't twist my words!"
His chuckle was low, rich. "Mm."
He shrugged on his coat with effortless grace, adjusting the collar with long, practiced fingers.
Ayaka swallowed, trying not to notice how natural it felt—him being here, the quiet rhythm of their banter, the way his presence filled the space around her so completely.
"Will you be fine on your own?" Akihiko asked, his gaze flickering toward her.
Ayaka scoffed. "I've lived alone for years. Why wouldn't I be fine?"
He hummed again, but this time, there was something different about it—something thoughtful, something hesitant.
Still.
That single word lingered in the air between them, weighty despite its brevity.
Ayaka wasn't sure why, but she didn't want him to leave.
And the worst part? She had no idea how to stop him.
Akihiko took a slow step toward the door. Then another.
Then, just as his fingers brushed against the handle, he hesitated.
He turned back.
His blue eyes locked onto hers, flickering in them—something that sent a slow shiver down her spine.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.
And then, as if drawn by some invisible force, Akihiko crossed the distance between them.
Ayaka barely had time to react before his hand lifted, his fingers brushing against her cheek.
His touch was impossibly light, almost hesitant, as though testing the moment, as though waiting for her to pull away.
She didn't.
His thumb traced along her jawline, slow and deliberate, before tilting her chin up ever so slightly.
Ayaka's breath hitched, her heart hammering against her ribs as he leaned in.
And then—
His lips met hers.
The kiss was slow, unhurried, a quiet claim that sent warmth cascading through her veins.
Akihiko didn't rush; he never did. Instead, he took his time, tilting his head slightly as his fingers slid into her hair, anchoring her against him.
Ayaka's fingers curled into the fabric of his coat, gripping it tightly as if to keep herself grounded.
Heat coiled in her stomach as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving against hers with a quiet intensity that sent her mind spinning.
There was something intoxicating about it—about him.
The way he kissed her like he had all the time in the world, like he had no plans of leaving at all.
And for a moment, she let herself believe it.
But then, just as suddenly as he had kissed her, he pulled back.
Not far—just enough to let his lips hover against hers, their breaths mingling in the space between them.
Ayaka's eyes fluttered open, her pulse still racing as she stared up at him, dazed.
Akihiko smirked, his fingers lingering at the nape of her neck. "You will miss me."
Ayaka swallowed hard, her face burning. "I—That's not—!"
His low chuckle sent a shiver down her spine.
With infuriating ease, he released her, stepping back and slipping his hands into his pockets as if he hadn't just kissed her senseless.
"I'll come pick you up in three days." he said, his voice softer now, almost… fond. "Don't keep me waiting."
And just like that, he turned and left.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Ayaka stood frozen, staring at the empty space where he had just been, her lips still tingling from his touch.
Her heart pounded relentlessly, her fingers twitching at her sides as if trying to hold onto something that was already slipping away.
And as the room settled into quiet stillness.
She was already waiting for him.