Talent Reborn
Episode 23: A Confession Beneath the City Lights
The Aftermath of Victory
The night air was crisp as Haruto stepped out of Tokyo Central Medical University.
The surgery had been a success.
The world had witnessed it.
And yet, the weight on his shoulders hadn't lifted.
His name was all over the medical news.
"Genius Surgeon or Lucky Risk-Taker?"
"Haruto Aizawa: The Doctor Who Defied the Impossible."
Praise. Criticism. Suspicion.
But none of it mattered right now.
He just wanted a moment to breathe.
Then—
A familiar voice broke the silence.
"Haruto."
He turned.
Ayaka stood under the streetlights, her long hair catching the glow.
She had been watching.
Waiting.
Her eyes reflected emotions she hadn't yet spoken.
Unspoken Feelings
Haruto forced a small smile. "Did you see the surgery?"
Ayaka nodded. "Of course."
She hesitated. "You were incredible."
But something in her voice was different.
Not just admiration.
Something deeper.
She stepped closer. "But… that wasn't just skill, was it?"
Haruto's breath hitched.
She had always been sharp.
Too sharp.
"What do you mean?" he asked carefully.
Ayaka bit her lip. "I mean… you're not just talented, Haruto."
She searched his eyes.
"There's something else. Something you're not telling me."
His chest tightened.
Did she… suspect his ability?
The Moment of Truth
Silence stretched between them.
For a second, Haruto considered lying.
But the way Ayaka was looking at him—**earnest, unwavering—**made it impossible.
She had always believed in him.
Could he keep hiding forever?
The words nearly slipped from his lips—
"I have the power to copy talents."
But—
Before he could speak, Ayaka suddenly looked away.
"…Never mind," she whispered.
Haruto blinked.
Ayaka laughed softly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Forget I said anything."
She turned as if to leave—
Haruto grabbed her wrist.
"Ayaka."
She stilled.
Slowly, she turned back to him.
Haruto took a shaky breath.
If he couldn't tell her the truth…
Then at least—
He could tell her something real.
A Confession Beneath the City Lights
"…I couldn't have done it without you."
Ayaka's eyes widened.
Haruto's grip on her wrist loosened, but he didn't let go.
"You've always been there," he continued, voice quiet. "Since the moment I started this journey again… you've been the one pushing me forward."
A breeze passed between them.
Haruto looked down. "That's why I—"
His voice caught.
Ayaka's fingers curled slightly against his palm.
For a moment, it felt like the city had disappeared.
Just the two of them.
Just their unspoken words.
But before Haruto could finish, Ayaka smiled—
Soft, bittersweet.
"Haruto."
He looked up, breath hitching.
"I'm glad you said that."
Then—she gently pulled her hand away.
And with a small, knowing smile, she whispered:
"…But I need you to figure out what you really want first."
Haruto's heart pounded.
By the time he found his voice, she was already walking away.
Leaving him alone beneath the city lights.
The Future Is Uncertain
Haruto stood there for a long time.
Staring at the empty space where she had been.
His fingers still tingled from where they had touched.
He had saved a life today.
But for the first time, he wondered—
Had he just lost something important?
As the night deepened, Haruto made a quiet vow to himself.
He had already defied the impossible once.
And if he wanted to hold onto the people who mattered—
He would do it again.
End of Episode 23.