Chapter 146. Only Her

The moment Ayaka stepped out of the elevator, something felt… strange.

The hospital was the same—white walls, clinical air, the ever-present shuffle of hurried footsteps and low-toned voices—but the atmosphere was different.

Charged.

Like static before a storm.

She took a hesitant step into the corridor.

The second her heels clicked against the polished floor, three nurses nearby stopped talking and turned to look at her—wide-eyed and smiling.

"Ms. Yamamoto!" one of them greeted a little too brightly.

Ayaka blinked, surprised. "Uh… good day."

"You look gorgeous today!" another chimed in, practically bouncing on her toes. "New lipstick shade?"

Ayaka touched her lips, confused. "No… the same one I always use."

"It really suits you!" a third nurse said, nudging the second and giving Ayaka a suspiciously smug look. "You look very… radiant."

Ayaka blinked. "Okay… thanks?"

The three of them giggled as they walked past her, whispering animatedly once they were out of earshot—though they weren't nearly quiet enough.

"…she doesn't know yet, does she?"

"…he's totally losing it today."

"…wait till she sees the mug—"

Ayaka raised an eyebrow. 'Mug?'

She moved down the hallway, and another nurse gave her a polite wave. "Hello, Ms. Yamamoto! Someone's having a good hair day!"

Ayaka touched her bun, frowning. "It's literally the same as yesterday."

"Mm-hmm!" the nurse hummed with a wink. "And yesterday, someone wasn't glowing."

"Glowing?"

She walked faster, glancing around.

A group of interns passed by, all of them looking between her and their phones, trying to be sneaky but failing miserably.

One of them mouthed, "It's her!" to his friend.

Okay, what the hell was happening?

Ayaka clutched her bag tighter, her heartbeat beginning to thump for reasons.

She'd expected to quietly pick up whatever Kei had dragged her here for and leave unnoticed—not be treated like the lead actress in a hospital-wide drama.

She turned the corner near the diagnostic wing—and froze.

There he was.

Akihiko.

Standing by the nurse's station.

Dressed immaculately in his usual white coat, sleeves rolled neatly, dark shirt underneath perfectly buttoned.

His silver hair caught the overhead lights, a contrast to the sharp blue of his eyes.

He looked calm—composed—but his gaze was scanning the corridor like he was waiting for something.

Or someone.

Her pulse stuttered.

Then she saw her.

The patient.

Same sling.

Same soft giggle.

Same flirty body language.

She was leaning slightly toward him, laughing at something he hadn't said, hand gently resting on his arm as if she had a claim.

Her head tilted in that practiced way, like she'd rehearsed it in front of a mirror.

And Akihiko?

He wasn't even looking at her.

He was looking past her.

Right at Ayaka.

"Seriously?" Ayaka muttered under her breath, fury flaring in her chest.

It was happening again.

Every step she'd taken to protect her heart, to stay composed, to avoid confrontation—shattered in a second.

Ayaka's grip tightened around her bag strap, knuckles white.

She didn't hesitate.

Didn't blink.

She marched toward them like a storm.

The patient turned, likely ready to flash another smug smile—but didn't get the chance.

"Ayaka—" Akihiko started, stepping forward—

Too late.

She grabbed the front of his coat, yanked him down just enough—and kissed him.

Hard.

The hallway exploded.

Gasps rang out.

A nurse squealed.

A janitor dropped his mop.

Phones were pulled out like guns at a showdown.

Someone shouted, "Oh my god, it's happening!"

Ayaka didn't care.

She kissed him like she meant it.

Like she was done pretending.

Like she wasn't about to let some random girl stand in her place.

Her fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his coat, and for a second, the whole hospital stopped spinning.

Akihiko didn't hesitate this time.

His hands slid to her waist, strong and steady, anchoring her to him like he'd been waiting for this moment longer than he'd ever admit.

His body softened, the usually distant chill in him melting away under the heat of her lips.

When she finally pulled back, breathless and mortified, her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

Her cheeks burned.

Her hands fell away.

"I—um—Kei! I need to get something from his office—I'll be right—"

She tried to flee.

Akihiko didn't let her.

His arm wrapped around her waist again, tugging her back into his side with one smooth motion.

He looked straight at the stunned patient, then let out the smallest, and most smug smile Ayaka had ever seen on him.

"Just so we're clear." he said, voice rich and low and completely unapologetic.

"I belong to her."

His gaze slid down to Ayaka, softened—tender but intense.

"Only her."

There was dead silence.

Then—

"OH MY GOD!" one of the nurses shouted.

The corridor erupted.

Squeals.

Cheers.

The loud clapping of someone's hands.

Phones recording.

At least two people fainted with excitement or maybe just dropped to the floor dramatically.

The gossip group chats were already lighting up.

The flirty patient took one step back, clearly stunned, face flushed with embarrassment.

She mumbled something about needing to go back to her room and practically fled.

Ayaka stood frozen against Akihiko's side, burning with the realization of what just happened.

He didn't just let her kiss him.

He wanted it.

And he had made sure everyone knew.

Including her.

From down the hallway, Kei leaned against the wall with a smug grin, arms crossed.

"Damn." he muttered. "She didn't just take the bait—she burned down the boat and declared war."

Beside him, Toru wiped a fake tear. "My ship sails strong."

Back near the nurse's station, Akihiko leaned down, his lips brushing Ayaka's ear as the noise faded around them.

"You didn't have to kiss me like that." he whispered.

Ayaka's breath hitched. "You're complaining?"

"No." He chuckled. "But now I'm not sure I can let you leave without doing it again."

Ayaka pulled back just enough to glare at him—though it wasn't very effective when her face was still red.

"This isn't over." she muttered.

Akihiko smiled, brushing his thumb along her waist. "Not even close."

------

After the whirlwind kiss, the hallway buzzed with chaotic glee, but Akihiko didn't flinch.

He didn't let Ayaka go.

Not even when her fingers fidgeted nervously with the hem of her blouse, not even when she tried to wriggle out of his grasp while muttering half-baked excuses to run to Kei's office.

Instead, he looked down at her—cool blue eyes softening into something only she ever got to see.

"Come with me." he said quietly, but firmly.

"To Kei's office?" she asked, still flustered.

"No." he said, sliding his hand gently down her arm until he could interlace their fingers. "To mine."

Her heart skipped.

He guided her down the hallway, the whispers and cheers fading behind them as the elevator doors closed.

When they reached his office, Akihiko hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.

Ayaka stepped inside, expecting the usual clinical neatness—the spare, sterile space she'd seen before.

But the room was… different.

Soft, amber lighting from a warm-toned lamp replaced the harsh fluorescents.

On his desk sat a mug with elegant gold lettering:

"Property of Ms. Midnight"

—a dainty moon and feather printed beneath.

Ayaka blinked.

And beside the mug… was a stack of her books—first editions, some marked with sticky notes, others with neat annotations in Akihiko's handwriting.

And tucked among the pages were… origami cranes?

Her breath caught.

On the corner of the desk was a delicate white rose in a narrow vase—real, not artificial.

It stood alone, elegant and quiet, like everything Akihiko did: understated but meaningful.

"…You did this?" she whispered.

He stepped beside her, watching her expression carefully. "I thought… after everything, I'd remind you that you're not just someone I care about when no one's looking."

She turned to him slowly, eyes wide. "You made your office into a… Ms. Midnight shrine?"

"Don't phrase it like that." he muttered, ears tinged with red.

A soft laugh escaped her lips. "Is that the mug everyone's been talking about?"

"Toru's fault." he said flatly. "But I used it anyway."

Ayaka's gaze softened.

She reached out and ran her finger along the rose's stem.

It wasn't grand or dramatic.

It wasn't public like the kiss.

But it was more personal than anything else he'd ever done.

"You really did plan something." she said quietly.

"I was hoping to show you before you attacked me in the hallway." he teased, brushing a knuckle along her cheek.

She flushed instantly. "I didn't attack—!"

"You launched." he deadpanned. "I'm still recovering."

Ayaka covered her face with both hands, groaning. "Why are you like this…"

Akihiko smiled faintly, then gently took her wrist, lowering her hands. "Ayaka."

She looked up at him, caught in the intimacy of that moment—the quiet, the warmth of the lamp, the smell of coffee still lingering in the room.

"Let me take you out." he said softly. "No work, no distractions, just us."

Her breath caught. "You mean like… a date?"

He nodded. "You deserve more than hallway chaos and hospital rumors."

Her fingers trembled slightly in his grip. "I… might be overdressed."

He glanced at her outfit—slacks, loose blouse, low heels. "You look perfect."

Ayaka's throat tightened. "And what if I say no?"

"I'll ask again tomorrow." he said with a slight tilt of his head. "And the day after."

She stared at him—this impossibly stoic man who once never flinched even in the OR, now opening up piece by piece in front of her.

"Alright." she said softly. "But you better feed me well."

"I'll book the best ramen in the city." he chuckled.

Ayaka narrowed her eyes.

"…I'm kidding." he added quickly. "Mostly."

She laughed, the tension finally easing from her shoulders.

"Fine." she said, her smile still shy. "You can pick the place."

Akihiko nodded once, as if sealing a pact. "Tonight. After my rounds."

Ayaka hesitated. "Should I meet you somewhere?"

"Just stay here." he said. "We've had enough miscommunication to last a lifetime."

A soft silence settled between them.

Then she glanced down at the mug again and murmured, "You really like me, don't you?"

Akihiko leaned in, brushing his lips gently against her forehead before whispering,

"I love you."