"Why are you lurking outside my door, Akihiko?" Ayaka's voice cut through the silence of the hallway, her sharp gaze locking onto him like a hawk eyeing its prey.
She leaned against the doorframe, her suspicion evident.
Akihiko stood there, a carefree grin tugging at his lips, his striking blue eyes sparkling with amusement.
In his hand, he held a stack of papers, which he extended toward her. "Relax, Ms. Midnight." he teased.
"I came to return this. The chapter feels a lot more natural now—less like you're trying too hard. And that part where the male lead rescues the female lead from her obnoxious date? Chef's kiss. It made the story so much more entertaining."
Ayaka let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, dramatically placing a hand over her heart.
"Finally! After more than 10 revisions, I've passed the almighty Akihiko's editorial test!" She threw her hands in the air, her mock frustration making him chuckle.
"You do know I sacrificed countless hours of sleep for this, right?"
Akihiko shrugged, his grin turning impish. "Great art requires sacrifice. But since you've finally impressed me…"
He reached out, ruffling her hair in a gesture that was equal parts teasing and affectionate. "I think you deserve a reward."
Ayaka swatted his hand away, pouting as she tried to fix her now-messy hair. "Oh? And what kind of reward are we talking about?"
"Are you free next Sunday?" he asked casually, tilting his head ever so slightly. "How about I treat you dinner?"
Her heart skipped a beat, the casual offer feeling anything but.
Just as quickly, reality snapped her out of it. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, her expression shifting to regret.
"I can't. I have my middle school reunion that day!"
Akihiko raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her sudden panic.
"Middle school reunion? Sounds... eventful. Well, let's reschedule then." he said easily, his relaxed tone making her feel a little less guilty.
"I'll let you know when I'm free." Ayaka promised, giving him a quick, grateful nod.
But before she could relax, Akihiko leaned in closer, his face inches from hers, the sly grin returning like clockwork.
"While you figure out your schedule..." he murmured, his voice low and teasing, "You'd better finish Chapter 13 by tomorrow. End of day."
Ayaka's jaw dropped. "Tomorrow?! Are you kidding me? Shouldn't I get at least a day to celebrate my victory over Chapter 12?"
"You already have your break." Akihiko called over his shoulder, turning on his heel and strolling toward his own door.
He cracked it open just enough to step through before glancing back at her with a mischievous smile.
"Next Sunday." he said smoothly, and with a small wave, he disappeared into his apartment, the door clicking shut behind him.
Ayaka stared at the door, her frustration bubbling over. "That smug, aggravating Ice Prince!" she muttered, stomping up to his door.
"You're the worst torturer ever!" she hissed, her hand hovering over the wood as if to knock—or maybe smack it—but her courage faltered.
Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. "Calm down, Ayaka..." she told herself firmly.
"He's just being…him... Typical Akihiko."
Finally retreating to her apartment, she closed the door with a determined sigh.
She had a chapter to write, but her thoughts kept drifting—not to the story, but to his blue eyes, his teasing smirk, and that lingering promise of dinner.
------
Ayaka stood in front of her mirror, the soft light of her room casting a gentle glow on her reflection.
She smoothed the fabric of her elegant, knee-length dress—a deep shade of midnight blue that shimmered subtly with every movement.
The dress hugged her figure perfectly, with its off-shoulder neckline emphasizing her graceful collarbones.
Her long, curly hair cascaded down her back in silky waves, framing her face in a way that felt effortlessly beautiful.
A touch of makeup completed the look—subtle yet radiant, with soft blush, winged eyeliner, and a hint of gloss on her lips.
"Alright..." Ayaka whispered to herself, drawing a steadying breath.
Her heart pounded as she slipped on her heels, the sound of the leather clicking softly against the wooden floor. "Time to face them."
------
The restaurant was already bustling with life when Ayaka arrived, though much later than she'd intended.
As she stepped through the grand entrance, the atmosphere hit her all at once—the low hum of conversations, the gentle clink of glassware, and the ambient glow of golden lights reflecting off the polished surfaces.
She hesitated at the door, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor as she scanned the room.
And then it happened.
All at once, the room seemed to still as heads turned toward her.
Conversations faltered, and a hush fell over the crowd. Ayaka could feel their gazes—boys and girls alike—fixing on her as though she were the centerpiece of an art gallery.
Her cheeks flushed crimson under their scrutiny, and she instinctively clutched her small clutch bag tighter, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.
The boys were wide-eyed, some exchanging awed glances as if silently confirming that, yes, they were seeing this stunning woman for real.
Even the girls, many of whom had once dismissed her in middle school, looked at her with astonishment, their whispers rising in the air like a wave.
Ayaka bit her lip, her usual composure momentarily faltering.
She was painfully aware of how quiet the room had become, and the heat of so many eyes on her made her feel as though the walls were closing in.
Thankfully, a familiar voice cut through the tension like a warm ray of sunlight.
"Ayaka, you're finally here!"
Aiko's chirpy, enthusiastic voice broke the spell, and Ayaka turned toward the source of the sound.
Aiko was weaving her way through the crowd with a bright smile, her arms outstretched in welcome.
Her presence was like a lifeline, pulling Ayaka out of the spotlight and into a more familiar rhythm.
Before Ayaka could fully process what was happening, Aiko reached her and grabbed her arm with a friendly tug.
"Come on, you're sitting with me!" she said, her tone filled with genuine warmth and excitement.
Ayaka allowed herself to be guided, grateful for Aiko's cheerful energy.
As they walked to the table, the whispers continued, but Aiko seemed blissfully unaware—or perhaps purposefully ignoring them—as she chatted animatedly about how wonderful it was to see Ayaka after so long.
When they reached the table, Aiko gestured for her to sit beside her, patting the seat with an exaggerated flourish. "Right here! You have to tell me everything while we catch up."
Ayaka nodded, finally managing a small smile. She settled into the seat, her heart still fluttering from the attention but beginning to steady under the comforting presence of her old classmate.
The noise in the room gradually resumed as people returned to their conversations, though a few lingering glances still flickered in her direction.
Ayaka let out a quiet sigh of relief, her gaze shifting to Aiko, who was already launching into a story about her latest adventure.
"Thank you..." Ayaka murmured softly, her voice barely audible over the chatter.
Aiko paused and grinned, leaning closer as though sharing a secret. "You look amazing, Ayaka. They don't know what hit them." she said with a wink before diving back into her animated chatter.
"You still look so cute as before, Aiko!" Ayaka complimented her back.
"Oh come on Ayaka! You're the popular one!" Aiko replied as she jokingly hit her as she felt flattered from the compliment.
As the girls were giggling and talking. A familiar voice jumped in the conversation.
"So how's the famous Ms. Midnight?" A man sat beside Ayaka, too close making her uncomfortable.
"Wait... Haruki...Yamada?" Ayaka said as she pointed at him.
"You got it!" Haruki laughed along with the other classmates.
"I'm honored! The most popular girl in Chiyoda Middle School remembered my name!" Haruki exclaimed.
"Of course she would, you're her classmate, idiot!" One of their girl classmates shouted as she hit his head lightly and everyone laughed.
As the conversation began to flow and the atmosphere grew comfortable, the door creaked open, and the air shifted.
A group of three girls sauntered in, their presence commanding attention like predators entering a serene meadow. Conversations faltered, and eyes darted toward them.
"Well, well~ it seems everyone's so eager to cozy up to Ms. Midnight..." a girl with a sharp, fox-like smile teased, her voice dripping with mockery.
Her words sliced through the pleasant chatter like a blade, her gaze locking onto Ayaka with predatory precision.
She was flanked by two others, their stances just as imposing, each exuding an air of cold authority.
The trio's disdain was almost palpable, a subtle weight pressing down on the room.
Ayaka's body stiffened as she turned to face them, her warm smile vanishing like the sun swallowed by storm clouds.
Her piercing gaze sharpened, flickering between each girl as she silently named her uninvited guests.
'Asami Kimura… Hina Aikawa… Kanako Higarashi...' Ayaka's thoughts churned with their names like an old wound being reopened.
Asami, the leader of the group, stood at the forefront.
Her cold, calculating eyes glimmered with barely concealed malice, and the smirk playing on her lips was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
"Nice to see you again… Ayaka Yamamoto!" she said, her tone icy enough to chill the air around them.
The words were polite in form but venomous in delivery.
The tension crackled like a live wire, filling the room with unspoken hostility.
Ayaka could feel the weight of judgment from all three pairs of eyes, dissecting her every move.
The others in the room began to retreat into whispers and nervous glances, sensing the storm about to break.
Ayaka didn't flinch. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she kept her composure.
"Asami Kimura..." Ayaka replied, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of steel.
Asami's sly smile begins to widen. "What a surprise, isn't it?"
The air was thick with anticipation, each second stretching longer than the last.
It felt as though the room itself was holding its breath, waiting for one of them to make the first move.