The quiet hum of the city night filled the room as Sera sat on the couch, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The words she needed to say swirled in her mind, but they felt heavy, almost too much to carry. Across from her, Ryou stood silently, his golden eyes watching her with a calmness that belied the storm raging within him.
"Ryou, I wanted to thank you," Sera began softly, her voice trembling slightly. "For letting me stay here, for protecting me, and for... everything."
Ryou's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The words felt like blades to him, cutting deeper with every syllable.
"I found a place to settle," she continued, her gaze dropping to her hands.
His heart clenched. He had known this moment was coming, prepared himself for it, but hearing it from her lips still felt unbearable. It's right. She deserves more than this—more than me.
"You did?" Ryou's voice was low, measured, but the conflict within him bled into his tone.
"I will still protect you from the shadows," Ryou said finally, his voice low and steady. "It's my duty."
Sera flinched at the word, her chest tightening painfully. "Of course," she murmured, forcing a small smile. "I know you've done so much already. I just... at least I won't burden you anymore by staying here. It's your private residence, after all."
"You're not," he said sharply, surprising even himself. He looked away, composing his thoughts. "You're not a burden."
The silence between them grew heavier, thick with unspoken emotions. Ryou wanted to tell her to stay, to admit that she had become more than just someone he protected. But the words caught in his throat, tangled with the fear that he had no right to ask that of her.
Her heart tightened at his words, but before she could respond, a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. Both of them froze, their eyes locking briefly before Ryou turned toward the sound. His expression shifted instantly to one of cold vigilance.
"Mr. Ryoumaru," a woman's voice called from outside the door.
Sera, knowing it must be the woman she had seen before, rose from the couch. "I'll go to sleep, then. Goodnight, Ryou," she said softly.
As she walked past him, Ryou clenched his fists at his sides. Say something, his mind screamed. Ask her to stay. Tell her she doesn't need to go. But he remained silent, his chest aching as the sound of her footsteps faded into the bedroom.
Straightening, his expression hardened as he called, "Come in."
Selva opened the door, her posture rigid and professional, her sharp black suit immaculate. "Mr. Ryoumaru," she said crisply. "The two men have been interrogated. They confirmed their connection to the government. What are your orders, sir?"
Ryou's golden eyes flicked toward the bedroom door where Sera had gone, his thoughts immediately shifting to her safety. "Lock them up," he said evenly. "I'll hear the full report at the headquarters."
Selva nodded but hesitated briefly. "Understood, sir. I'll see to it."
As she turned to leave, Ryou let out a quiet breath, his mind racing. He hadn't wanted Sera to overhear any of this. She didn't need to know how close the danger had been or how deep it ran. The thought of her living with that kind of fear made his chest tighten. She's safer away from all this, he told himself, though the thought offered little comfort.
The next morning passed in a blur for Sera. She worked her shift at the restaurant, her mind already on the packing she needed to do that afternoon. The thought of leaving the mansion brought a mix of relief and sadness. It was time to move on, but a part of her still felt tethered to Ryou's presence. She couldn't shake the regret that last night might have been the final time she would see his face, hear his voice. She wished she had talked to him a little longer before that woman arrived.
As her shift ended, she gathered her things and headed for the door. But before she could leave, Nathan appeared.
"Sera," he called, stepping in front of her. "Wait a second."
She paused, looking up at him curiously. "What is it, Nate?"
Nathan shifted nervously, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something more serious. "I—I wanted to tell you something. Something important."
Sera tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"
Nathan took a deep breath, his hands clenching at his sides. "Could you come with me for a minute? Just to the garden cafe nearby?"
Curious but agreeable, Sera nodded, following him. The short walk felt tense, with Nathan glancing at her nervously, fidgeting with his hands. When they finally sat down, he blurted out, "Sorry… It's a bit sudden, but… No, it's not sudden. I... Since the first day we met, I've had feelings for you."
Sera blinked, stunned by the confession.
"I like you, Sera. I really do," Nathan continued, his voice trembling slightly but filled with conviction. "You're so nice, so comforting. Your eyes, your smile—everything about you is beautiful. And I… I've been scared someone else would take you away. So I thought I should just confess already."
Sera's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. Nathan's confession caught her completely off guard.
Unseen from the shadows outside, Ryou watched the exchange, his chest tightening painfully. He had followed her here, unable to stay away despite knowing it wasn't his place. Now, as he watched Nathan pour his heart out to her, Ryou felt a pang of jealousy so sharp it nearly consumed him.
He's good for her, Ryou thought bitterly. Better than I could ever be. He can give her a normal life, one without shadows and danger.
But even as he told himself this, his hands curled into fists, and his golden eyes burned with an emotion he couldn't suppress. He wanted to intervene, to pull her away from Nathan and tell him that he had found her first—even before this lifetime. But he didn't move. He couldn't.
Sera finally found her voice. "Nathan... I don't know what to say."
Nathan smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't have to say anything now. I just... wanted you to know how I feel."
She nodded slowly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. "Thank you for telling me," she said softly. "I need some time to think."
Nathan nodded, his smile softening. "Of course. Take all the time you need."
As she walked out of the cafe, her heart felt heavy with the weight of Nathan's confession. She liked Nathan—he was kind, funny, and warm. He made her smile in a way she hadn't in a long time. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Ryou, to the way his presence filled every corner of her life. The calm strength in his gaze, the way he always seemed to know when she needed protection, even when she didn't ask for it.
But why would he ever look at me that way? she thought bitterly. A man of his caliber must have a line of beautiful, high-class women waiting for him. I'm just a burden he feels obligated to protect, nothing more. The image of Selva crept into her mind—sharp, elegant, and confident in ways Sera felt she could never be. And there's also that woman...
Her chest tightened painfully at the thought. She wanted to push him out of her mind, to forget the way his presence made her feel. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake him from her heart.
While Ryou kept on watching her from the shadows as she walked down the dimly lit street, her shoulders slightly hunched as if the weight of the world rested on them. His golden eyes burned with emotions he could no longer deny but could never express. He moved silently, his steps in perfect rhythm with hers, as if tethered to her by an invisible thread.
With every step she took, his heart ached more. He told himself again and again, She deserves to live a common and peaceful life, repeating the words like a mantra to hold himself back. But each repetition only deepened the hollow ache inside him.
He clenched his fists, his mind at war. He wanted to reach out, to tell her that she didn't need Nathan, that he would always be there, no matter what. But what could he offer her? His world was nothing but shadows and danger, and she deserved so much more than that.
Even if it means letting her heart go, he thought, the finality of the words cutting through him like a blade. And yet, he couldn't stop himself from watching her, from walking beside her unseen, wishing—hoping—that somehow, she might still choose him.