Hana sat up, clutching the sheets around her shoulders, a soft blush warming her cheeks as she avoided meeting Ryo's gaze. Beside her, Ryo lay sprawled out, watching her with an affectionate smile, his eyes filled with a rare tenderness.
After a quiet moment, he spoke, his voice gentle. "Hana... do you think there's a chance... you and I could be something real?" His tone held a hint of vulnerability, a side of him he rarely showed.
She bit her lip, looking down at the sheets she held so tightly. Then, slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his, and a small, genuine smile appeared. "Yes, Ryo-sama," she whispered, her voice steady. "I'm ready to leave my past behind. The memories that hurt, the things I've held onto for too long... I want to let it go."
Ryo reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his touch lingering. "You mean that? You'll let go of all that? Even that idiot?"
