Akihiko's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind racing as he processed the surreal scene unfolding before him. "No way! You're pulling my leg, right?"
"I knew you would say that so here is my evidence, Dr. Nakamura!" With a playful smirk, Ayaka whipped out her phone and hit play on a video capturing her riveting book signing event.
It was undeniably her—Akihiko leaned closer, heart pounding as the reality hit him; Ayaka was not joking. "Did you bring your books? I'll sign every single one!"
As they settled into their seats, Akihiko placed all his precious books on the table, still in disbelief that his favorite author was sitting right across from him—his mind flashed back to the moment he'd spilled coffee on her just a week prior.
"Friends now, are we?" The waiter chimed in suddenly, clearly recalling the coffee spill incident. An awkward silence enveloped the table as the two exchanged glances, the tension palpable.
"Or perhaps, couples?" the waiter continued, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh no! We're just here to chat about something important! I'll have my usual." Ayaka declared, glancing at Akihiko, who still looked like he was in shock.
"O-oh right! My usual as well..." Akihiko stammered, finally snapping out of his daze.
As their orders arrived, Ayaka set to work, enthusiastically signing Akihiko's books.
"You have devoured a lot of my stories… Are they that good to make you this invested? Dr. Nakamura?" she remarked, but Akihiko was lost in thought, leaving Ayaka to look up and meet his gaze.
His eyes were fixed on her, something about the warmth in his stare made her cheeks flush. "H-hey! I'm done!"
Ayaka squeaked, handing him the signed books. "I might just melt if you keep looking at me like that!"
"Is it you, Ms. Midnight? I'm awake, right? Or is it a dream?" he said, barely believing it as he gently poked her cheek as if to confirm she was real.
Swatting his hand away, Ayaka replied, "Yes, yes! I'm Ms. Midnight. And I need your help."
He blinked, puzzled. "Help? If it's about writing, I'm terrible at that… sorry."
"It's not about writing—it's something much bigger." She leaned in, seriousness etched on her face.
"Be my muse."
"Muse? What do you mean?" Akihiko asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"My editor wants me to write a romance novel, and I can't find the perfect male lead. When I saw you, I knew—you're the ideal muse for my story!" she explained, urgency in her voice.
Akihiko let out a chuckle, disbelief dancing in his eyes. "Ms. Midnight writing a romance novel? Now that's a plot twist."
"I'm dead serious! I need your help!" Ayaka pressed, desperation creeping into her tone.
"I've got two weeks to hand in a draft, and I haven't even started!"
"No." The word slipped from his lips, concise and resolute.
Ayaka's mouth dropped open in shock. "No? You don't want to help your favorite author?"
"Sorry, Ms. Midnight, but I'm not keen on playing the role of a main character or being featured in a romance novel." Standing up, he gathered his books, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Thanks for signing them, though." he teased, a twinkle in his eye.
"I've got to run—I have an early shift at the hospital." He waved goodbye, leaving her in a whirlwind of emotions, abruptly exiting as the door swung shut behind him.
"Shoot! I almost had him!" Ayaka exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement as she lifted her steaming cup of coffee to her lips, savoring the rich aroma.
Her eyes glimmered with determination, sparkling like stars in a twilight sky. "Next time, Dr. Nakamura, I'll get you!" she declared, her heart pounding with ambition.
But then, a wave of panic swept over her features, causing her to gasp, "Oh no! I'm late again!"
In a flurry of motion, she hurriedly gathered her scattered belongings, tossing items into her bag with reckless abandon. Her heart raced, each beat echoing the urgency of the moment.
------
After a quick detour to the café, where the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with cheerful chatter, Ayaka sprinted into the sleek office building.
Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she stepped into the elevator, just in time to catch Kazumi as he strolled in beside her.
"Whoa, look who showed up late!" she teased, aiming for levity despite the tension in her chest.
Kazumi turned to her, revealing the exhaustion etched into his features. Dark circles framed his eyes, a vivid indicator of his sleepless night.
"You won't believe it. I attended a family party that went on way too long. I barely caught any sleep!" he responded, his voice trailing off, the usual spark missing.
"That sounds rough..." Ayaka replied, a pang of empathy tugging at her heart as she observed her friend's weary state.
"So, what's the scoop? How's that novel of yours coming along?" Kazumi inquired, attempting to redirect the conversation.
Ayaka shot him a playful glare, a mixture of annoyance and amusement dancing in her gaze. "You're not even asking why I'm late?"
He chuckled softly, his weariness momentarily forgotten. "Come on, Ayaka! We all know you're fashionably late. It's like your signature move!"
"You're not wrong there!" she laughed, her spirits lifting for a brief moment. But then, the mirth in her expression faded as quickly as it had come.
Kazumi noticed the shift and asked, concern threading his voice, "What's going on?"
With a heavy sigh, Ayaka felt her enthusiasm dim. "So, I found that guy I was telling you about..." she began, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Turns out, he's my brother's colleague at the hospital. Things started a bit rocky, but…" She allowed the words to hang in the air, drawing Kazumi in like a moth to a flame.
"But what?" he urged, his curiosity piqued as he leaned closer, eager for the unfolding drama.
"Well, he turns out to be a huge fan of my novels! But he's never made it to any of my book signings, so I thought it'd be a nice surprise. After signing all his books, I boldly asked if he could be my male lead inspiration for my romance novel…" Ayaka recounted, her voice building with excitement.
Kazumi's eyes widened in anticipation. "And…?"
"He flat-out rejected me and left!!!" Ayaka erupted, her frustration bubbling over, the weight of her emotions spilling into the space between them.
Kazumi chuckled at the absurdity of it all, trying to stifle his laughter. "Ouch! That's quite a stab in the heart! So, what's your game plan now?"
"I'm not backing down! In just three days, I will win him over!" Ayaka declared fiercely, her resolve hardening like steel.
"You've got this! If you need backup, just holler. But be warned, guys like him are tough cookies to crack." Kazumi advised, offering her a supportive pat on the back as he prepared to exit.
"This is my floor; catch you later!" he waved, leaving Ayaka on the elevator.
------
Once Ayaka reached her office, she settled into her chair, ready to dive into the crucial task ahead. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, eager to begin the introduction of her draft.
Just as she started to find her rhythm, a sharp knock shattered her concentration.
"Come in!" she called, her excitement bubbling back to the surface.
Daiki, her editor-in-chief, burst through the door, his eyes alight with curiosity. "How's the novel coming along, Ms. Yamamoto?" he asked, his gaze sparkling with hope.
Taking a deep breath, Ayaka let determination wash over her once more.
She couldn't let her doubts seep into her words.
"Everything is going great! I'll have the first draft ready in two weeks!" she proclaimed, her newfound confidence brightening the room.
"That's the spirit! I knew you could do it! HAHAHAHA!" Daiki cheered, his enthusiasm contagious as he exited her office, leaving a trail of energy in his wake.
But once the door clicked shut behind him, a wave of dread crashed over her.
"I'm so doomed…" she mumbled, her heart racing with the pressure of looming deadlines.
"I really need to convice Dr. Nakamura quick..." The clock was ticking, and the challenge was officially on.
------
As the sun descended toward the horizon, casting a warm glow over the world, Ayaka returned to her apartment, a flutter of anticipation dancing in her chest.
The evening air was thick with an electric energy that seemed to hum around her.
Just as she approached her door, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of a figure stepping out from the flat next door— residing in the largest apartment in the complex. "Oh, the new neighbor must have moved in already."
When the man turned to face her, a look of shock swept across his features, and her breath caught in her throat. It was Akihiko, his expression mirroring her surprise.
"YOU AGAIN?!"
They cried out simultaneously, their voices mingling in an electrifying moment of disbelief that hung between them.