Ayaka and Akihiko locked eyes, the silence between them stretching thick with an unspoken tension.
The hallway seemed to narrow around them as Akihiko finally broke the silence, his voice cool but carrying an edge of something she couldn't quite place.
"I knew you lived in this complex." he said, his gaze steady and piercing. "I just didn't realize we'd be on the same floor."
Ayaka raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well, lucky for you, looks like we're neighbors now." she quipped, her words carrying a mix of surprise and mockery.
Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer than she intended, taking in his effortlessly striking features. "Guess fate has a funny way of throwing us together, huh?"
Akihiko scratched the back of his head awkwardly, an expression rarely seen on his normally composed face. "Y-yeah, I guess so..."
Ayaka didn't waste time, pressing forward with the reason she had sought him out. "Anyway, about the novel—can you—"
Before she could finish, Akihiko, looking slightly uncomfortable, slammed his door shut with a loud thud, cutting her off mid-sentence.
The abruptness of it left Ayaka stunned, her eyes wide as she stood frozen in the hallway. She couldn't believe it.
"Unbelievable... He went back inside when he heard the word 'novel' just unbelievable!" she muttered under her breath, her face flushing with a mix of frustration and confusion.
She let out a small huff, pouting, before finally turning back to her apartment.
------
That night, Ayaka sat at her desk, her notebook scattered with crumpled pages, each plan to get Akihiko to agree to be her inspiration failing more miserably than the last.
"No... no... no!" she groaned, tossing another failed attempt into the trash.
Ayaka dragged her hands through her hair, the weight of her frustration settling heavily on her shoulders.
"How do I convince him?!" she uttered, her voice tinged with desperation.
Her mind raced, replaying every interaction with Akihiko, until suddenly, a thought struck her. Her eyes widened, and a mischievous smile crept onto her lips.
"He works night shifts!" she remembered, "And if I catch him after his shift, maybe he'll be too tired to argue."
She leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping thoughtfully against the desk. "I'll make him breakfast. Maybe a warm gesture will soften him up."
------
The next morning, Ayaka stood at Akihiko's doorstep, clutching the carefully prepared bento she had spent hours perfecting.
Her nerves were a bundle of frayed threads, and every sound in the hallway had her heart racing.
But when Akihiko finally appeared, looking like he had just walked out of a movie, her breath caught in her throat.
He looked like a prince—his striking silver hair, his blue eyes that seemed to pierce through her with an intensity that left her breathless.
Even though he looked tired, there was something undeniably captivating about him.
He wore his exhaustion like a badge of honor, yet he still had that almost ethereal quality that she couldn't ignore.
"Excuse me..." he said, his voice cold, yet there was an undertone of something more, something that made her pulse quicken.
Ayaka snapped back to reality, too flustered to respond immediately.
She took a step back, but her feet didn't seem to move fast enough, and Akihiko's gaze narrowed, his proximity making her heart race faster.
"I said, excuse me." he repeated, his words sharper now. "You're blocking my way."
Her breath hitched, her face a deep shade of crimson as she stumbled back, almost dropping the bento in her hands.
"Oh! Sorry!" she squeaked, her voice a little too high-pitched.
She finally handed him the bento, her hands trembling slightly.
"I thought you'd be tired after your shift, so I made breakfast for you..." she trailed off, her voice unsure but still hopeful.
Akihiko glanced down at the bento and then back at her, his expression unreadable. "I already ate outside." he said indifferently.
Ayaka's shoulders slumped, her face falling in defeat. Still, she tried to press on. "Well, um, about the book—"
"Not interested." he cut her off, his tone final and dismissive.
Without another word, he unlocked his door and stepped inside, leaving Ayaka standing in the hallway, completely rejected once again.
She stared at the closed door, feeling like her heart had just dropped into her stomach. "Seriously?" she muttered, sighing deeply as she trudged back to her apartment.
"Why does he have to be so... Difficult?"
------
The next day, Ayaka's frustration pushed her to take even more drastic action. She couldn't let Akihiko get away with it.
She needed to see him face-to-face, in a professional setting, where her brother Kei's presence might sway him.
She walked through the hospital corridors with a sense of purpose, her eyes scanning every corner for Akihiko.
A nurse approached, her smile polite but curious. "Ms. Yamamoto? Are you here to see Dr. Yamamoto? He's in surgery right now."
"No, I'm actually here to see Dr. Nakamura..." Ayaka replied firmly.
The nurse raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Dr. Nakamura? Are you... dating?"
Ayaka's face burned as she stammered, "W-What?! N-no! It's nothing like that! I just need to speak with him about something important."
The nurse's smile widened. "Well, Dr. Nakamura isn't on night shifts anymore. He's on-call now, so he comes and goes as needed."
Ayaka blinked, shocked by the revelation. "That guy... He really knows how to avoid me..." she thought, the frustration welling up inside her.
With a tight smile, she thanked the nurse and left the hospital, a storm of thoughts racing in her mind.
------
That evening, Ayaka was at the convenience store, grabbing some quick snacks—instant ramen, onigiri, and dango—when her eyes fell on a familiar figure.
Akihiko stood at the counter, dressed in a casual gray sweatshirt, his silver hair and striking features looking even more princely under the soft lighting of the store.
His blue eyes met hers for a brief moment, a flicker of something—teasing, maybe?—in his gaze.
"Hey..." he said, his voice cool, his expression unreadable.
Ayaka barely acknowledged him, too tired and frustrated to respond. She grabbed her own items, still lost in thought.
When she stepped outside, she was surprised to find Akihiko waiting by the door.
"What are you still doing here?" she asked, her voice flat and devoid of energy.
"Waiting for my favorite author." he said with a smirk, his voice oddly playful despite his usual coldness.
"And it's dark out. Can't have you walking home alone."
Ayaka rolled her eyes, her irritation boiling over. "Your favorite author who you refused to help?"
He chuckled softly, walking beside her. "Fair point."
As they walked, Ayaka recounted her latest failed attempt to find him, her voice thick with annoyance. "I went all the way to the hospital, and you weren't even on the schedule. You're impossible!"
Akihiko's lips quirked up into a teasing grin. "I never told you to look for me."
She shot him a glare. "Dr. Nakamura, I will win you over." she declared, her voice still tired but with a hint of determination.
"Good luck with that..." he teased, his voice light but challenging.
As they approached the crosswalk, a car suddenly sped by, its engine roaring as it swerved dangerously.
In a split second, Akihiko's arm shot out, pulling Ayaka back to safety.
"You should pay attention when crossing the street." he scolded, his voice calm yet firm, his eyes locked onto hers with a protective edge.
"I'm sorry..." Ayaka said quietly, still a little shaken. "I was just so tired."
"If that's the case..." Akihiko said, his voice softening.
He reached for her hand, his grip warm and firm. "I'll lead the way. Wouldn't want anything happening to you. Your brother would kill me if I let anything happen to you."
Ayaka's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but feel the warmth of his hand in hers. She glanced up at him, his face focused as he guided her through the streets.
She tried to look away, but the pounding of her heart made it impossible to ignore the way he made her feel—safe, yet more aware of him than ever before.
"Is there something wrong?" Akihiko asked, noticing her gaze.
"N-nothing!" she stammered, quickly turning her face away. "Let's just keep walking."
By the time they reached the building, Ayaka felt a strange mix of emotions as Akihiko finally released her hand.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of loss, even as they stepped into the elevator together, a heavy silence filling the space between them.
When the elevator stopped on their floor, Ayaka quickly exited, barely managing a soft "Thank you..." before disappearing into her apartment.
Behind Ayaka's closed door, the quiet of her apartment felt almost suffocating.
She stood frozen for a moment, her gaze fixed on her hand, still trembling slightly from Akihiko's touch.
The warmth of his grip lingered on her skin, as if his hand had left an imprint that refused to fade.
She slowly brought her hand to her chest, the sensation of his touch still so vivid that it sent an unexpected flutter through her.
Her heart was beating faster than usual, each thrum sending waves of warmth through her body.
"What was that...?" Ayaka's mind raced, her thoughts colliding in confusion and a growing sense of unease.
She tried to calm herself, but it was impossible.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the warmth of his touch again, felt the way his hand had held hers so gently.
It wasn't just physical warmth; it was a strange, almost electric connection that coursed through her veins, leaving her restless and unsettled.
------
Ayaka slumped in her chair, her mind spinning in circles.
The faint glow of the clock on her desk read well past midnight, but sleep was the last thing on her mind.
Every failed attempt to persuade Akihiko played on repeat in her head, mocking her. She let out a frustrated groan, grabbing her phone with a burst of determination.
"Keiko, Yuki—I need your help!" she typed into their group chat. Moments later, their names lit up her screen as the call connected.
"What happened now?" Keiko asked groggily, her voice laced with curiosity and just a hint of annoyance.
"Yeah, Ayaka..." Yuki added with a yawn, "What's the emergency? It's the middle of the night!"
Ayaka paced the room, her phone in hand. "I've hit a wall! I've tried everything to get Dr. Nakamura to agree to be my muse—ambushing him, making him breakfast, trying to catch him at work—but nothing works! He's colder than a glacier!"
Keiko chuckled softly on the other end. "Alright, calm down. Start from the top. Tell us everything about this doctor—don't leave anything out."
Taking a deep breath, Ayaka launched into the full story, recounting every moment from the day she met Akihiko.
She described his piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her, his silver hair that glinted even under the dullest light, and the way his presence was magnetic despite his frosty demeanor.
She explained how he'd unknowingly become the perfect muse for her novel and how every attempt to recruit him had ended in humiliating failure.
When she finished, a heavy silence hung in the air until Keiko spoke up. "Ayaka..." she said, her voice calm yet firm, You're going about this all wrong. If you keep pushing, he's just going to keep pulling away."
"She's right..." Yuki agreed. "You're not giving him a reason to say yes. You need to make him want to help you. Entice him."
"Entice him how?" Ayaka demanded, flopping back into her chair.
"It's not like he's the kind of guy who can be bribed with cookies or flattery."
Keiko suddenly gasped, her voice lighting up with an idea. "How about a contract?"
"A... contract?" Ayaka repeated, sitting up straighter, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Yes!" Keiko said enthusiastically.
"Think about it! Make it official, like a professional agreement. Outline exactly what you want from him and what he'll get in return."
Yuki caught on instantly, her tone matching Keiko's excitement. "That's brilliant! A formal contract makes it less personal and more professional. If he sees it as a business deal, he might actually take it seriously."
"But... a contract? Isn't that a bit over the top?" Ayaka asked, still skeptical.
"Not at all." Yuki replied.
"You're a writer, Ayaka! Use your skills. Lay out clear terms: how long the arrangement will last, what his role will be, and—most importantly—what he gets out of it. Add incentives he can't refuse."
Keiko giggled. "Exactly! You've got to think like a strategist, Ayaka. Make him an offer so good he'd be a fool to turn it down. And don't forget to keep it balanced—you want him to feel like he's gaining something too."
A grin spread across Ayaka's face as the idea took root. "You're right. This could work! I'll write the perfect contract—detailed, professional, and irresistible!"
"That's the spirit!" Yuki cheered. "Go win your muse!"
"Good luckkk~!" Keiko added in a sing-song voice.
The moment the call ended, Ayaka sprang into action, her exhaustion forgotten.
She powered on her computer, the blue glow illuminating her determined expression.
Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she poured every ounce of creativity into drafting the contract.
She included everything: the duration of the agreement, specific duties, the boundaries of their interactions, and a section detailing the benefits Akihiko would receive—things like a character dedication, input on the story, and even a percentage of the novel's future earnings.
She carefully worded each clause, ensuring it sounded professional yet enticing.
Hours passed unnoticed, the quiet hum of the printer breaking the silence as it spit out the final copy. Ayaka held the crisp pages in her hands, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Standing tall, she gazed at the contract with a sense of pride and triumph. It was her best shot at convincing Akihiko to finally say yes.
Her eyes sparkled with determination as she clutched the document tightly. "Dr. Nakamura..." she declared with a confident smirk, "You will become my muse!"