This Is Too Easy

After their date, Mia stayed true to her word—Aoi didn't see her again.

Or rather, she was giving him space on purpose.

She wasn't the type to chase after a man who had already fallen into her hands. No, she wanted him to miss her. To notice the silence. To feel her absence.

And it worked.

For three days, Aoi came home to an empty apartment. No Mia waiting outside with that smug little grin. No texts—not that he had her number. No unexpected encounters.

At first, he told himself it was a relief. He had turned her down, hadn't he? This was what he wanted, wasn't it?

But as the days dragged on, something gnawed at him. The apartment felt too quiet. Even his routine—work, home, sleep—felt heavier.

And no matter how much he tried to push it away, he kept thinking about that kiss.

It had been years since he'd last kissed someone, and he hadn't realised how much he missed it. The warmth, the way their breaths had mixed, the way Mia had looked at him afterward—as if she had always known he'd end up here.

And maybe she had.

Because now, here he was, sitting in his car outside Historia University, waiting for her like some desperate idiot.

He barely had time to gather his thoughts before a knock on his window made him jump.

Mia leaned down, peering in with a curious tilt of her head. "Aoi?" she said, her voice light with surprise. "What are you doing here? You know Haru's not in today."

Aoi swallowed, then stepped out of the car, his heart hammering harder than it should have. "I'm not here for Haru," he said, meeting her gaze. "I came to see you."

Mia blinked, tilting her head as if she didn't understand. "Me?" she said, her voice quiet, hesitant. "Why?"

Aoi took a deep breath. This should be easy, but his chest felt tight. "Because I want to be with you," he said, his voice firm but careful.

Mia stared at him, eyes widening slightly. Then, she let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You're kidding, right?" She gave him a wry smile. "Aoi, you were the one who said no. You were the one who told me I was too young. And you were the one who made me promise you that I would leave you alone after one date. Now you're suddenly here, saying you want me?"

Aoi hesitated. When she put it like that, it did sound ridiculous.

"I needed time to think," he admitted. "And I realised I—" He stopped, exhaling sharply. "I like you, Mia. I just didn't want to admit it before."

Mia studied him, then glanced away, biting her lip like she was torn. "But what about Haru? I mean, I was in love with him just last week. Doesn't that… bother you?"

Aoi's heart skipped a beat at the reminder, but he shook his head. "Are you still in love with my brother?"

Mia hesitated for just a second before shaking her head. "No," she said softly.

It was a lie and Aoi knew that. But he still wanted to believe her.

He wanted to believe that this—they—could be real. That he wasn't just someone she was using to pass the time.

Mia sighed, like she was fighting with herself. Then, after a moment, she looked up at him with a small smile. "Okay," she said. "Let's give this a shot. But what are we going to say to Haru?"

"Don't worry about that now."

Aoi should've felt relief. Should've felt happy.

But something about how easily she agreed made his chest feel tight. No hesitation. No surprise.

Like she had expected this.

Like she had been waiting for him to come to her all along.

For a brief moment, doubt flickered in the back of his mind.

This is too easy.

But he pushed it down. Because for the first time in a long time, he wasn't alone. And right now, that was enough.

…

Present Day

"Haru? Haru?"

Kei's voice cut through the heavy fog of sleep, pulling Haru back to reality. His eyes snapped open, and for a brief second, he forgot where he was. Then it hit him. Kei's house.

He had spent the night here after walking in on them—Mia and Aoi—together in his apartment.

A dull ache settled in his chest as the memory resurfaced.

Haru groaned, running a hand through his hair as he forced himself upright. His body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion. He had barely slept last night, the image of Mia and Aoi haunting him every time he closed his eyes.

Kei stood beside the bed, arms crossed. His expression was careful, but Haru could see the concern hidden beneath it.

"Haru, I know you don't want to go to class today, and honestly, I wouldn't blame you," Kei said, his voice softer than usual. "But think about Sakura. This is her first day back after everything that happened with Kenji. Everyone's going to be whispering about her. Staring. You know how cruel people can be. They didn't believe her before when Ryo posted that photo of her drugged with Kenji. What do you think they'll do now?"

Haru's jaw clenched.

"Just imagine how uncomfortable she'll feel if you're not there," Kei pressed.

Haru exhaled sharply, turning his gaze away.

Damn it. Kei was right.

Sakura had no one else to rely on. Right now, he was the only person she trusted. If he let his own emotions get in the way and abandoned her, she'd be completely alone.

"I have to stay by her side," Haru murmured, more to himself than to Kei. He clenched his fists, pushing aside his own turmoil. "She needs me."

Then, his expression darkened.

"But, Kei…" His voice was low, cold. When he turned to look at Kei, his eyes were sharp—warning. Dangerous.

"Don't mention any of this to Sakura. Remember she's still healing from her trauma. The last thing I want is to make her worry."

Kei stiffened under the intensity of Haru's stare. He had been planning to tell Sakura everything—to reveal the truth about Mia. She deserved to know.

But now?

He swallowed hard and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Fine," he muttered. "I won't say anything."

For now.

But this wasn't over. Not even close.