Ryo sat in the dimly lit hotel room in England, his eyes scanning the shadows as he sat on the edge of the bed. The mission he had been assigned was over, but his mind was far from settled. It had been over a month since he'd last stepped foot in the ramen shop, and even longer since he'd seen Hana.
The messages from her had started trickling in about two weeks ago, but he hadn't replied to any of them. At first, he had told himself it was for the best. His work was dangerous, and he didn't want to drag Hana into it. She deserved better than a man who lived a life in the shadows.
But now, sitting in the silence of the room, he couldn't help but feel an emptiness in his chest. He missed her. He missed the way she would smile at him when he walked into the ramen shop. He missed the simple moments they shared over a bowl of ramen, the way she made the world feel a little less heavy.
His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. Ryo glanced down at the screen, seeing that it was a message from Kai. He hesitated for a moment, then opened it.
Kai: Ryo, I've been busy with another mission. Kenta's been trying to contact you—he's worried about Hana. She hasn't seen you in over a 2 month, and he says she's been really down. I didn't reply to his message, just read it and sent it to you. You might want to check in on her when you can.
Ryo stared at the message for a long moment. He could feel a strange sense of guilt gnawing at him. Hana had always been there for him, even when he didn't deserve it. And now, here she was, waiting for him to reply, and he hadn't done a thing.
He quickly scrolled through his phone, looking at the messages Hana had sent over the past month. Each one was short, each one carrying the weight of concern, of a woman who missed someone who might not even be alive anymore. He had seen them all, but he hadn't replied. Not because he didn't want to, but because he was afraid. Afraid of getting too close, afraid of what might happen to her if she knew the truth.
But now, as he read Kai's message, it felt like his resolve was slipping away.
"Damn it," Ryo muttered to himself.
He couldn't just keep avoiding her. Hana deserved to know that he was okay. Even if he couldn't be with her, he could at least give her some peace of mind.
He typed a quick reply, his fingers hesitating for just a moment before pressing send.
Ryo:Sorry for the silence. I've been busy with work, but I'm okay. I hope you're doing well, Hana.
Ryo stared at the message before he hit send. He didn't know what he was expecting—perhaps a response, perhaps nothing at all. But he felt a little lighter, like he had just taken the first step toward making things right.
He set the phone down, leaning back on the bed, and closed his eyes. The sound of his phone buzzing in the quiet room was almost too much to bear, but he picked it up anyway, seeing that it was a reply from Hana.
Hana: Ryo, I've missed you. I was starting to worry about you. I thought something had happened. I'm glad to know you're okay.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Ryo's lips. Hana's message was simple, but it was enough to make his heart race. He felt a warmth spread through him as he read her words. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay after all.