-Miya-
The moment I stepped back into my apartment, I leaned against the closed door, exhaling a deep breath. My heart was still racing—not from the fever, not from exhaustion, but from something else entirely.
"Kizaki Keizuke"
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated at myself. Why was I thinking about him? Why did my chest feel tight whenever our eyes met? Why did I feel so warm whenever I was near him?
It wasn't fair.
Kei was **difficult to read.** His face remained unreadable most of the time, his cold demeanor making it seem like he didn't care. And yet, his actions told a different story.
He took care of me when I was sick. He cooked for me. He changed my clothes—even if the thought of that still made my cheeks burn.
That man was **dangerous.**
Not in the way that would make me fear him, but in the way that made my heart react in ways I didn't understand.
I flopped onto the couch, covering my face with my hands. *Get a grip, Miya.*
But no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, there was something about Kei that **felt familiar.**
Not in appearance—he looked nothing like Ryo. Kei's features were sharper, his presence heavier, his gaze more piercing. Ryo had been bright, expressive, and warm in the way he smiled.
But **their actions…**
The way Kei quietly took care of me, the way he didn't ask for explanations, the way he just **stayed** by my side—it reminded me too much of Ryo.
And that scared me.
I sat up abruptly, gripping my knees.
Kei isn't Ryo.
Ryo had been gentle in his warmth, always making his feelings clear. Kei was **silent in his kindness,** helping me without expecting anything in return.
And yet, both of them had this way of making me feel safe, as if no matter what happened, I wouldn't be alone.
A wave of heat crept up my neck. It felt like I was burning again, but this time, I **knew** it wasn't the fever.
I needed to cool down—**both physically and mentally.**
My eyes landed on the small fridge in the corner of my room. Without thinking, I got up, pulled it open, and grabbed a canned beer.
I popped it open and took a deep gulp, the cold liquid easing the heat in my throat.
Maybe this would help.
Maybe it would drown out the thoughts I didn't want to acknowledge.
Maybe—just for tonight—I could pretend that Kei **wasn't** the reason my heart was acting this way.
( Morning Encounters )
Miya
The morning light filtered through my curtains, gently coaxing me awake. My head felt clearer, my body lighter—the fever was gone.
I stretched my arms above my head, letting out a small sigh before getting out of bed. The memories of last night came rushing back, but I quickly shoved them away.
No use thinking about it now.
After a quick shower, I dressed in my usual work attire and moved to the kitchen, preparing a simple breakfast. Toast, eggs, and coffee. Something quick and easy.
As I ate, my eyes flickered to the empty can of beer on the counter.
Did that even help?
I shook my head and finished my meal, pushing my thoughts aside. It was just Kei. There was no reason for me to feel weird about him.
Or at least, that's what I tried to tell myself.
—
I slung my bag over my shoulder and stepped out of my unit, locking the door behind me.
Just as I turned to head toward the elevator, I froze.
Keizuke Kizaki was already there, waiting for the elevator door.
His presence was as calm and collected as ever, hands in his pockets, face unreadable. He glanced at me as the elevator doors slid open.
"Morning," he greeted.
My heart skipped—just a little.
"…Morning," I replied, stepping inside beside him.
The doors closed, enclosing us in a small space filled with silence.
I cleared my throat, trying to think of something to say. Anything to make this less awkward.
"Um… Are you heading somewhere far today?" I asked, mentally cringing at how stiff I sounded.
Kei glanced at me. "Just taking a walk."
"Oh. Right."
Another silence.
I fiddled with the strap of my bag, my mind scrambling for a way to continue the conversation, but everything felt unnatural. Forced.
Why was this so hard? It wasn't like we didn't talk before.
But ever since last night…
I snuck a glance at him, only to find him sneaking a glance at me.
Our eyes met for a brief second before we both quickly looked away.
The tension in the air felt heavy.
I wasn't sure if it was just me, or if Kei felt it too.
Before I could overthink it further, the elevator chimed.
We both stepped out, walking side by side toward the street.
I told myself to relax.
It was just a normal morning.
Just Kizaki-kun.
So why did my heart feel so unsteady?
-Kei - Kizaki-
The crisp morning air brushed against my skin as I jogged through the quiet streets, the rhythmic sound of my footsteps echoing in my ears.
I needed to clear my head.
The elevator ride earlier had been brief, yet the tension—the strange, unspoken tension—still clung to me.
**Miya.**
She was the one who unsettled me. The one who made my heart race in ways I wasn't used to.
And it was frustrating.
I had been around women before. I had been engaged. I had experienced love—or at least, what I thought was love. But this… this was different.
She wasn't just someone passing through my life.
She was **here.** In my space. In my mind. Too much. Too often.
I pushed myself to run faster, as if I could outrun the thoughts creeping in.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
I had come here to escape. To be alone. To **forget.**
But for the first time in a long while, my past wasn't consuming me. I wasn't thinking about the altar, the letter, or the woman who walked away.
Instead, I was thinking about Miya.
The way she looked in my shirt, flustered and refusing to meet my gaze. The way she bit her lip when she was nervous. That soft pout, the way her cheeks puffed out when she was annoyed—**so damn cute** that I caught myself stealing glances.
Her lips—**red, like strawberries.** **So tempting.**
Her hair—**silky, soft.** I wanted to run my fingers through it.
I clenched my jaw, inhaling sharply as I pushed forward.
**What the hell am I thinking?**
But no matter how far or how fast I ran, I couldn't shake the truth.
**Something was changing.**
And I wasn't sure if I wanted to stop it.