They’ve lost count of how many times they’ve tried. Yet, the expected result never came. So, when the news finally arrived, that long-awaited, life-altering confirmation, it wasn’t greeted with the unbridled celebration one might anticipate. Instead, Masaki and Erina found themselves standing in the eye of the storm, grappling with a complicated mixture of relief, anxiety, and something unspoken. Logic said they should be celebrating; the heart, however, was reluctant to follow the script.
Perhaps that’s why Masaki began pouring even more of himself into her. Every glance, every touch was amplified, as if he was trying to communicate something words couldn’t quite capture.
Then, the memory surfaced without warning. The week Erina had returned to her family home. That stretch of days had drained him—a hollowed-out sensation of loss so profound he swore he would never endure it again. The silence in their shared space had been deafening.
The dam broke.
Pulling her close, the words tumbled out in a frantic rush. “Don’t go anywhere again. I love you! I love you! I love you!!”
