After dinner, they moved to the living room and they sat together on the couch. The warm lighting and distant city noise made the setting feel nostalgic—like the simpler days of their youth. But beneath the quiet comfort, tension hung thick in the air, the silence filled with everything they hadn't said.
Hayato was the first to speak, his tone calm but firm. "Back in high school, just before graduation, my dad asked me to go to the U.S. branch for work experience. He also mentioned the Matsuda family—they arranged for their daughter, Karina, to go too, and made me her guardian. That's all it ever was. We were never in a relationship." He looked at Chiaki, eyes steady, hoping she would believe him.
Chiaki's hands nervously clasped in her lap. "But Karina clearly has feelings for you," she said quietly, trying to keep her voice even. "You two seem like a good match. I'm sure your family wouldn't mind having her as their daughter-in-law." She forced a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her heart ached, the words hurting more than she expected. Saying it aloud only made the possibility of losing him feel more real.
Hayato turned to face her, his eyes intense and focused. "Is that really what you want? For me to be with Karina?" he asked quietly, reaching out to take Chiaki's hand. His touch was warm, steady—but it only made the emotions swirling inside her harder to ignore.
Chiaki froze, her breath catching as she looked away. "It doesn't matter what I want," she whispered, barely audible.
"It matters to me," Hayato said, his grip firming just slightly as he leaned in. "I need to know how you feel."
His voice was gentle but serious, filled with emotion that tugged at something deep inside her. Chiaki's heart pounded as she struggled to speak. How could she tell him the truth when so much stood in their way—Karina, the past, their families?
"Let me speak first," Hayato said, exhaling as if bracing himself. His voice was low, but every word carried quiet sincerity. "Chiaki, I've loved you for as long as I can remember. I just didn't know how to show it. In high school, I watched you grow into someone even more beautiful and kind, and my feelings only deepened. But when I overheard you telling someone we were just classmates… it broke me. I thought I didn't matter to you, so I left. I thought maybe I could forget you if I put enough distance between us."
He paused, his hands clenched in his lap. "But even in the U.S., you were always with me—on my mind, in my heart. I couldn't let you go, no matter how far I ran."
Chiaki's breath caught. The truth behind his sudden disappearance, the silence she'd agonized over for years, was finally out. And yet, instead of relief, a sinking heaviness grew inside her. His words stirred something deep, but so did the reality of everything between them—Karina, their families, the years lost.
"Hayato… thank you," she said softly, her voice shaking. "But I can't return your feelings. I think it's best we leave things as they are."
Hayato's face went pale, stunned by her words like he'd been hit. "Why?" he asked quietly, his voice filled with confusion and hurt. "If you feel the same way… why push me away?" He reached out to her, but she stayed still, not moving closer.
Chiaki blinked back tears, forcing herself to speak through the tightness in her throat. "I've already decided," she said softly. "In three months, I'm leaving the company and moving back to my mother's hometown. I've handed in my resignation."
Hayato froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Chiaki…"
She shook her head, cutting him off before he could say more. "Karina's the right choice for you," she said, her voice trembling. "She fits into your world—she loves you, and she can stand beside you in both your career and life." Her words came out shakily, but she pushed through them. "You'll move on eventually," she whispered, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes, even as her heart quietly broke.
She stood up suddenly. "I should go," she whispered, barely able to speak as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"Chiaki," Hayato called, his voice filled with raw emotion, almost pleading. She wanted to stop, to turn back and fall into his arms—but she didn't. She tightened her grip on her bag, her knuckles white, and kept moving.
"I won't give up on you," Hayato said behind her, his voice firm, his words like a vow. The intensity of it sent a shiver through her, but she didn't look back.
As soon as she stepped outside, the tears came. Silent and uncontrollable, they ran down her cheeks as she walked away from the man she loved.
It felt like losing a piece of herself. But she believed it was the right thing—for Hayato, for his future, and for her own peace. Two months. That's all she had left before she left the company and the city.
*****
Chiaki showed up to work the next day like nothing had happened. She stayed calm and professional, keeping her focus on her tasks and keeping her emotions hidden behind a neutral expression. But inside, her thoughts were a mess. She kept replaying her conversation with Hayato—his words, the pain in his eyes, everything. No matter how hard she tried to block it out, it stayed with her.
Just as she settled into her routine, her phone buzzed. It was a call from Karina. Seeing her name made Chiaki's stomach twist, but she answered. Karina's voice was cool and firm as she asked to meet on the rooftop. Chiaki hesitated—every instinct told her to say no—but she agreed. She needed to hear whatever Karina had to say.
The wind was cold on the rooftop. Karina stood near the railing, her hair moving with the breeze, her expression calm but sharp. "Sorry we haven't properly met," Karina said, her tone polite but with an edge. "I'm Karina. I've been with Hayato for the past ten years. Our families are planning our wedding." She spoke carefully, clearly watching for Chiaki's reaction.
Chiaki didn't flinch. She kept her gaze steady and her voice even. "I know," she said simply. Then she added, "If this is about last night—I've already told Hayato. There's nothing between us."
Karina's eyes narrowed, a slight smirk tugging at her lips. "You turned him down?" she asked, sounding almost amused. Chiaki nodded firmly. "You and Hayato are a better match. I'm leaving the city soon, so there's nothing for you to worry about."
Karina gave a dry laugh, though there was no trace of humor in it. Her sharp gaze locked onto Chiaki. "Are you sure about that?" she asked, her voice cutting. "You really think leaving will make him forget you? He hasn't been able to for ten years."
Chiaki faltered for a moment, the confidence in Karina's words shaking her. But she forced herself to stay calm.
Karina went on, her voice softer now but still pointed. "I saw the way he looked at you last night. It's not the way he looks at anyone else—not even me. I've spent years by his side, trying to earn his heart… but he's never looked at me the way he looks at you."
Chiaki stayed quiet, her fists clenched at her sides.
Karina's expression darkened slightly as she continued, her voice lower. "He keeps a photo of you in his wallet. Whenever we went shopping, he always ended up buying things he thought you'd like. I tried everything to be enough for him, but his heart was never mine."
She paused, then looked Chiaki straight in the eyes. "I used to want to meet the woman he loved. But now that I have? You're just a coward. Too afraid to fight for love. Honestly, I feel sorry for him."
Chiaki's hands curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms as Karina's words struck deeper than she wanted to admit. Her frustration flared. "What more do you want from me?" she snapped. "I've already stepped aside, and now you're calling me a coward?"
Karina scoffed, her gaze cold. "I was ready to say something cruel to push you away from Hayato. But since you've already rejected him, there's no need. And don't think for a second that I want your pity." With that, she turned and walked off, heels clicking as the rooftop door slammed shut behind her.
Chiaki stood frozen, Karina's words echoing in her mind. If Hayato could've let go of you, he would have by now. The truth of it hit her hard, leaving her shaken.
She turned to leave—and stopped. Hayato was there, just steps away, his expression unreadable.
"Hayato," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Without thinking, she stepped toward him, reached up, and gently cupped his face. Then, she kissed him.
The moment their lips met, a wave of warmth flooded her chest, chasing away the doubts and fear. The kiss was desperate, full of unspoken feelings and years of longing. Hayato's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as he kissed her back.
When they broke apart, their foreheads touched, breaths mingling in the cool air.
"Come to my place tonight," Hayato murmured. "Let's talk. No more running." Chiaki paused—but then nodded.