Chapter 143.Midnight Snacks & Emotional Whiplash

By the time they reached her apartment, the city had already tucked itself into its nighttime rhythm—quiet streets, distant traffic hum, and warm lamplight spilling from windows above.

Ayaka kicked off her shoes at the door with a small sigh. "I can't believe I planned all of that… and we ended up eating ramen."

Akihiko stepped in behind her, sliding the door shut, his coat already draped over his arm. "It was good ramen."

"You're never going to let me live this down, are you?" she mumbled as she headed toward the kitchen.

He followed, loosening the collar of his white shirt. "Nope."

Ayaka turned on the lights, and the soft amber glow of the apartment wrapped around them.

The familiar scent of home mixed with the faint lingering trace of her perfume—it felt peaceful, intimate, and comforting.

She padded over to the cupboard and grabbed two mugs. "Tea?" she asked.

"Sure."

While she boiled the water, Akihiko sank onto the couch, stretching out with a sigh.

His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing his forearms, and a few strands of his silver hair had fallen loose, slightly messy from the wind.

He looked far too comfortable in her space—like he belonged there.

Ayaka brought the mugs over a few minutes later, setting them down on the coffee table.

Akihiko patted the space beside him. "Come here."

She sat—carefully—not too close.

He narrowed his eyes at the gap between them. "That's a little cold for someone who dragged me into a dance battle today."

"I did not drag you. You jumped in on your own." she huffed, but edged closer.

He reached over, gently tugging at a curl by her shoulder. "You're still flustered about the date?"

"I just wanted everything to go well." She said, voice quieting. "I wanted it to be… perfect."

Akihiko looked at her for a long moment.

Then, softly, "It was perfect."

She glanced at him, unconvinced.

"I got to see sides of you I don't normally see. Flustered, bossy. Laughing so hard you snorted in the arcade—"

"Akihiko!"

He grinned.

She reached for a pillow to smack him with, but he caught her wrist mid-swing.

"You were real today." he murmured. "And you let me be part of that."

Ayaka's breath caught.

Her hand was still in his, his fingers warm against her skin.

And slowly, he tugged her closer—until she was curled up beside him, her knees brushing his thigh.

"I'm serious, Ayaka." he said. "I like this version of you. Not the perfectly planned one. Just… you. Though I still like all the versions of you anyway." He chuckled.

Her eyes met his, wide and searching.

"And besides." he added, voice low, "you looked too damn beautiful tonight to not hold like this."

Her cheeks flamed, and she buried her face into his shoulder. "Stop saying things like that…"

"Why? I haven't even told you the part about how good you looked twirling around in the arcade."

"Akihiko!"

He chuckled, and his hand found her waist, gently guiding her to rest against him.

His other hand brushed through her curls, slow and calming, until her heartbeat steadied.

They sat like that for a long while—close, quiet, her head on his chest, the bunny plush squished between them like an uninvited third wheel.

Outside the window, the moonlight shimmered across the buildings. Inside, their tea had gone cold, untouched.

But neither of them moved.

Not until Ayaka whispered, "You really mean it? You had fun?"

He leaned down, lips brushing just beside her temple. "The best night I've had in a long time."

She smiled, eyes fluttering closed.

Even if it was just ramen.

Even if the plans all fell through.

Even if nothing had gone the way she hoped.

It had been perfect.

Because it was him.

------

As Ayaka and Akihiko quietly moved about the apartment, preparing for bed, the soft domestic stillness was suddenly interrupted by the sharp chime of the doorbell.

Ayaka, already in her pajamas and towel-drying her damp hair, blinked in confusion. "Who could that be at this hour?" she muttered, frowning toward the hallway.

"I'll get it." Akihiko said calmly, already moving toward the door with that casual grace he always carried—barefoot, sleeves rolled up, and looking far too relaxed for the sudden intrusion.

The moment the door swung open, Akihiko was met with the unmistakable sight of Kai grinning from ear to ear, waving a plastic bag filled with clinking bottles of alcohol like it was a prized trophy.

Beside him stood Kei, hands in his pockets, looking more resigned than surprised.

"See?! I told you he'd be here!" Kai announced triumphantly, as if he'd just won a bet.

Without waiting for an invitation, he pushed past Akihiko into the apartment. "We're coming in."

"Good evening." Akihiko replied dryly, brows arching slightly as Kei gave a sheepish nod and followed his overly enthusiastic brother inside.

Ayaka appeared from the hallway, her expression somewhere between alarm and disbelief. "Kai? Kei? What are you two doing here this late?"

"We're here to celebrate, of course! Your relationship—hello? Isn't it obvious?" Kai declared, holding up the bag with a flourish. Inside were several colorful cans, bottles, and a crumpled bag of chips that looked like it had survived a small war.

Ayaka crossed her arms. "At midnight?! Are you serious right now?"

"He's got the day off tomorrow." Kei interjected nonchalantly, plopping down on the couch like this was routine.

Kai grinned, placing an exaggerated arm around Ayaka's shoulders and tugging her gently toward him. "Don't be such a killjoy! Right, Akihiko?" He shot Akihiko a wink over Ayaka's head.

Ayaka's eyes narrowed as she turned toward Akihiko, silently pleading with him to shut this down.

But Akihiko, looking effortlessly unbothered, simply gave a faint shrug and said, "I don't mind."

Kai whooped in victory. "That's what I'm talking about!" He practically skipped into the living room and began unloading the drinks and snacks on the coffee table with the excitement of a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.

He reached back and tugged Akihiko down beside him, clapping a hand on his back. "You're drinking with me, Akihiko. No backing out."

Meanwhile, Ayaka turned her suspicious gaze on Kei, who was trying very hard to blend into the cushions.

She leaned in, voice low and accusing. "Are you two trying to get Akihiko drunk?"

Kei flinched like he'd been caught in the middle of a heist. "I-I'm not part of this, okay? I have work tomorrow. I'm just the driver."

He looked away quickly, scratching the back of his neck.

Kai, having already cracked open a can, raised it high. "Come on! First shot!"

He handed one to Akihiko, who accepted it with that same unreadable smile that made Ayaka's stomach twist.

Ayaka sat beside Kei, arms crossed, watching warily.

Kai raised his can. "To new beginnings, questionable decisions, and possibly very bad hangovers!"

He and Akihiko clinked cans and downed their drinks in one smooth motion.

Kei winced just watching them, while Ayaka groaned into her palm.

Akihiko glanced her way, his gaze steady despite the alcohol, and gave her a soft, amused smile—subtle, but full of reassurance.

Like he was saying, 'Relax. I've got this.'

Ayaka, watching him surrounded by her overbearing brothers, couldn't help but feel a strange warmth blooming in her chest—equal parts dread and affection.

This wasn't how she imagined ending the night, but as the laughter echoed through her apartment and Kai poured another round, she realized—

This chaos was starting to feel a little like home.

------

It hadn't even been an hour.

Not even halfway through the drinks Kai proudly hauled into the apartment like a victorious warrior—and yet, there they were.

Akihiko Nakamura, the infamous Ice Prince, brilliant surgeon, cold-blooded genius of Tokyo Medical Center…

…was now slumped against the couch, one sock half-off, his blazer discarded somewhere near the shoe rack, cheeks flushed pink, blinking slowly at nothing in particular.

Beside him, Kai wasn't much better.

His usually well-combed hair was sticking up on one side, his shirt was mysteriously half-tucked, and he kept giggling like a child who just discovered how fun bubble wrap was.

Ayaka stared at the pair, incredulous. "They're drunk. Already?!"

Kei sighed dramatically, arms crossed as he leaned back in the armchair beside her. "Do genius people really get drunk this easy? How lame."

Ayaka nodded, eyes narrowing at the duo slurring nonsense in front of her. "Even I could finish a whole bottle without acting like that..." she muttered.

"Hey…" Kai suddenly perked up, voice echoing in the living room like he just had the most profound realization.

"Akihikoooo…" He dragged out the name like it was the beginning of a love ballad.

Akihiko turned his head with the sluggish grace of someone floating underwater. "Hnn?"

Kai, glassy-eyed and deadly serious, leaned in like he was about to interrogate him for state secrets. "You love Ayaka, right?"

Ayaka nearly choked on air. "KAI—!"

But Akihiko didn't even hesitate. He nodded, slow and sure, eyes half-lidded. "Of course. She's… soft. Pretty. Smells like strawberries."

Kei choked on his water.

Ayaka's face burst into flames. "What—what does that even mean?!"

But Kai was already pressing forward, one arm dramatically over Akihiko's shoulder. "Okay, okay, but do you love her forever? Like—not just a doctor forever, like soulmate anime-opening-song forever?"

Akihiko blinked. "Anime…?"

"Answer the question!" Kai demanded, shaking his shoulder.

"I would… love her." Akihiko slurred, "even if she turned into… a slug."

"A slug?" Ayaka screeched, looking betrayed.

"A pretty slug." he clarified, nodding seriously. "With… glossy eyes."

Kei coughed so hard he had to set his glass down. "I—what in the fresh hell—?!" He was sobbing with laughter, wiping a tear. "This is GOLD."

"Wait, wait, one more!" Kai waved a finger in the air as if summoning another round of truth from the heavens. "Akihiko! What if Ayaka lost all her memories, and the only way to get them back was to kiss her in the rain while holding a cat—would you do it?!"

Akihiko stared at him blankly for a second.

Then, as if the gravity of the hypothetical struck him to his core, he slowly nodded.

"Even… even if the cat… hates me. I'd do it. I'd kiss her twice. Once for her memories. Once for me."

Ayaka buried her face in both hands. "Please stop talking."

But Kai was far from done. "Okay, okay, what if Ayaka got turned into a vampire, and the only way she could survive was if you let her suck your blood every night forever—"

"She already does." Akihiko mumbled, eyes closed now. "Sucks the life outta me. But I like it."

Kei looked like he might pass out. "He's going to regret everything he just said in the morning."

"I might regret existing after this." Ayaka muttered, though her face betrayed her—red as a tomato, but struggled not to smile.

Kai leaned back, looking absurdly pleased with himself. "Well. Now I know. He's serious. That's all I needed."

"He's also about to pass out face-first into the couch." Kei said flatly, as Akihiko began to list sideways, head landing against Kai's shoulder with a dull thud.

"Aw, he's cuddly when drunk." Kai beamed, patting his head.

"I hate this. I want to go back in time and bolt the door shut." Ayaka whispered.

"Take notes though." Kei said with a smirk. "Pretty slug. Glossy eyes. Vampire wife. He's head over heels."

Ayaka groaned, sinking lower into the couch.

Kai grinned, still patting Akihiko like a cat. "Hey, Ayaka."

"What?!" she gritted.

"He said you smell like strawberries."

"Don't remind me."

"And he said he'd love you even if you were a slug. That's real love."

She finally laughed, exasperated but touched, reaching for the throw blanket to cover the two idiots half-asleep on the couch. "Yeah. I guess it is."

------

"Kai, we're leaving!" Kei said flatly, standing up and dusting off his pants like he was wrapping up a particularly exhausting shift at work. "Come on. You've caused enough emotional damage for one night."

Kai, now halfway lying across Akihiko's shoulder and humming some off-key anime opening, blinked blearily. "But I wanna stay! What if Akihiko needs to confess more weird metaphors?! I have questions—I didn't even ask him about the zombie apocalypse!"

"You'll ask it in the group chat tomorrow, I'm sure." Kei grabbed his brother by the collar and began hauling him up like a sack of very chatty potatoes.

Kai whined the entire way to the door, dragging his heels as Kei practically shoved him into his shoes. "But they're so cute together—let me stayyy—"

"Your cuteness license is revoked." Kei muttered. "Come on, before I chloroform you."

"Okay, okay, jeez! You're so uptight—like a sock drawer from hell…"

The door finally closed with a blessed *click* and silence—blessed, golden silence—settled over the apartment.

Ayaka exhaled slowly, her hands on her hips as she stared at the mess of half-eaten snacks and tipped-over drink cans. "Unbelievable…"

But when she turned back toward the couch, her scolding thoughts melted instantly.

Akihiko was still sitting there, disheveled and adorable in the softest, most unguarded way.

His silver hair had fallen slightly over his eyes, his flushed cheeks glowed under the dim light, and his brows were drawn together in a faint, confused frown.

"...Ayaka?" he called out softly, voice hoarse, as if waking from a dream.

She stepped closer. "I'm right here."

He didn't look up right away.

His fingers clutched at the blanket she had draped over him earlier, and his head tilted slightly to the side.

"Someone was here." he mumbled. "They tried touching me. Don't want that. Only you… Only you can touch me."

Ayaka stopped, heart thudding against her ribs.

Then his eyes—glassier than usual, but still those impossibly blue eyes—met hers.

"Oh. It's you…" A lazy smile curved his lips. "Good. You're warm."

Ayaka swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat and sat beside him.

"You're really out of it." she murmured gently, reaching out to push his messy bangs away from his face.

But before her hand could retreat, Akihiko caught it—fingers curling weakly around hers, as if anchoring himself.

"Don't leave." he whispered, his grip tightening slightly. "Okay? I promise… I'll cherish you."

Ayaka froze.

His voice was barely audible, thick with drowsy affection, but the words landed with the weight of something sacred—something unspoken for far too long.

"I won't." she whispered back, her voice trembling with something she couldn't name.

Akihiko leaned into her hand, cheek pressing against her palm like a sleepy cat. "You smell like strawberries." he murmured.

She let out a soft laugh, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. "You already said that."

"Still true." he said, eyes fluttering closed. "You're mine… even if you turn into a… slug…"

Ayaka snorted, wiping her eyes with her free hand. "I'll keep that in mind."

He was already halfway asleep, lips parted slightly, his breath evening out as he leaned more heavily into her side.

With a fond sigh, Ayaka carefully guided him to lie down, resting his head on her lap.

She adjusted the blanket over him, brushing his hair back with the kind of tenderness she only let herself show when he wasn't awake to see it.

"Idiot..." she whispered, smiling softly. "You're really going to make me fall even harder, aren't you?"

The only response was the soft rise and fall of his chest, his breathing slow and peaceful.

She leaned down and kissed his forehead gently.

"I won't leave." she promised, her voice barely above a breath. "And I'll cherish you too."