“Who you trust”

The clink of plates against the wooden table broke the silence in the dining room as Lily carefully set each one down. Her movements were slow, deliberate, more out of habit than focus. Her thoughts were elsewhere, replaying the events of the day like a song she couldn't get out of her head.

Koji had barely spoken to her since the morning. Not during class, not during lunch—he'd been polite, sure, but distant in a way that made her chest ache. She hated the feeling of the space between them widening, even if she understood why. He was hurt, not at her, but at the weight of everything around them. She'd seen it in his eyes, felt it in the hesitant way he smiled, like he was trying not to let her see just how much it was affecting him.

Lily bit her lip, straightening a fork beside a plate. Her phone rested on the counter, and she glanced at it for the third time in as many minutes. Should she text him? Say something?

She could picture the message in her head.

"Hey, are you okay? I feel like you've been off today."

It sounded fine, but what if it made things worse? Koji wasn't the type to talk about his feelings easily, and she didn't want to push him further away.

A muffled voice broke her train of thought, and she glanced toward the living room. Her dad stood near the couch, his phone pressed to his ear, pacing back and forth with a furrowed brow. He was in the middle of what sounded like a serious work call, his tone shifting between clipped professionalism and forced patience.

"No, that's not what I said," he said, his voice firm but not harsh. "The light setup needs to be adjusted before the shoot. If we're going for that kind of atmosphere, the angles can't be so flat."

Lily leaned against the table, absently fiddling with a spoon as she watched him. Kenjiro gestured with his free hand as he spoke, his movements quick and precise, like he was sketching ideas in the air. His expression was sharp, focused—so different from his usual easygoing self.

"It's not just about the equipment," he continued, his voice rising slightly. "You can have the best gear in the world, but if the execution doesn't match the vision, it's useless."

Lily sighed softly, shifting her gaze back to the table. She hadn't even realized she'd stopped setting it until the clatter of her spoon hitting the floor snapped her out of her thoughts. She bent down to pick it up, brushing it off before placing it back where it belonged.

Kenjiro's pacing stopped for a moment, and Lily looked up to see him pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, no, I'm not saying we have to start over," he said, his tone exasperated but controlled. "Just… give me a few hours. I'll send you a new plan."

Hours. Of course. Lily's chest tightened. She already knew what that meant—Dad would be working late again. Maybe all night. He always threw himself into his projects, especially when things didn't go perfectly the first time. She admired his passion, but sometimes it felt like it came at the expense of everything else.

The faint buzzing of her phone brought her back to the present. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking when she saw it wasn't Koji. Just Claire, sending her a meme about something totally unrelated to her current spiral. She missed her, of course, but

But now she didn't feel like explaining the situation to her.

Lily pushed the phone aside and turned back to the table, her fingers tightening around the edge of the chair she was straightening. She hated feeling this restless, like everything was slipping just slightly out of her control. Maybe a message wouldn't hurt. Something casual, something that didn't feel like pressure.

Her thumb hovered over the screen as she typed:

"Hey, just checking in. Hope you're okay :)"

She stared at the message for a moment before deleting it, her shoulders slumping. Why was it so hard to say the right thing?

Kenjiro's voice rose again, pulling her attention back to the living room.

"Fine. I'll send it by midnight," he said, running a hand through his hair. "But don't expect miracles. I'm not working with a blank canvas here."

Midnight. So, dinner would probably be quick, if it even happened. Lily let out a quiet sigh, forcing herself to finish setting the table. The weight of Koji's silence, her father's workload, and the murmurs from school all settled on her shoulders like an invisible weight she couldn't shake.

For now, she could only focus on the little things. Plates, forks, knives. Anything to keep herself from spiraling too deep into her own thoughts.

Kenjiro let out a heavy sigh as he ended the call, tossing his phone onto the couch with little care. He rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath about "incompetent assistants" and "unrealistic deadlines." His usual laid-back demeanor had given way to the tension in his shoulders, and his sharp eyes looked a little more tired than usual.

Lily, still standing by the table, watched him carefully. "Rough day?" she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.

"Rough night too, by the looks of it," Kenjiro replied, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I've got a ton to sort out before morning, and I can't afford any distractions." He gestured vaguely toward his desk, where his laptop sat waiting for him. "You don't mind if I skip dinner, do you?"

Lily shook her head, trying to keep her tone light despite the heaviness she felt seeing him like this. "Of course not. I can cook something quick—"

Kenjiro cut her off, waving his hand. "Don't bother, kiddo. Just order something. Something good. None of that cheap ramen, okay?" He gave her a small, weary smile, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes but still carried his usual warmth. "If you need anything, you know where to find me. I'll be chained to that desk all night."

Lily nodded, returning his smile with one of her own. "Sure,dad. I'll handle it."

He ruffled her hair affectionately as he passed by, heading toward his workstation. "Good girl. And don't wait up for me, all right?"

As he disappeared into the next room, Lily let out a quiet sigh. She knew what his words meant—he'd be pulling an all-nighter, fueled by caffeine and, most likely, a few cans of beer. She hated seeing him like this, but she also knew better than to try and talk him out of it. Dad was stubborn like that.

Turning toward the kitchen counter, she grabbed the landline phone and flipped through a drawer until she found the stack of restaurant menus her dad kept in a mess. Her eyes scanned the options before landing on a familiar one—simple, hearty Japanese food. Perfect.

Lily dialed the number and held the receiver to her ear, listening to the faint buzzing of the line. When the restaurant picked up, she smiled and greeted the person on the other end. "Hi, I'd like to place an order for delivery…"

(ᇂ_Jᇂ)

The sound of rain pounding against the windows filled the house, creating a steady rhythm that seemed to grow louder as Lily stood by the kitchen counter. She glanced at the clock, wondering if the delivery would be delayed in this weather. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the doorbell rang.

She grabbed an umbrella by reflex but hesitated, realizing she wouldn't need it for a quick exchange. Instead, she jogged to the door, her socks sliding slightly on the wooden floor. When she opened it, the cold, wet air rushed in, along with the sight of the deliverer.

There he was again.

The same silent figure from the other night, clad head to toe in black. His motorcycle helmet reflected the dim porch light, the visor obscuring his face completely. Rain dripped from his jacket and pooled at his boots, the glossy surface of his uniform shimmering in the downpour.

"Oh no," Lily said immediately, her voice soft but genuinely concerned. "You're soaked. I'm so sorry—I didn't think about how terrible the weather is right now."

He didn't respond, didn't shift even slightly. Instead, he held up the plastic bag with the food inside, the faint aroma of warm broth and rice seeping through.

Lily bit her lip, feeling a twinge of guilt as she reached for the bag. "I feel so bad. Really, I didn't mean to make you come out in this storm." Her words were met with silence, but she kept going, her natural warmth filling the void. "Thank you so much. Just wait a second—I'll grab your payment."

She hurried back inside, grabbing the exact amount and then adding a generous tip on top. When she returned, he was still standing there, unmoving, the rain dripping off the edges of his helmet. She held out the bills carefully.

"Here's everything," she said with a bright smile. "And this is for you." She added the extra cash, folding it neatly into his hand.

The deliverer hesitated. Not enough to draw her attention, but just for a split second. Then, without a word, he tucked the money into his pocket and gave her a small nod.

"Take care, okay?" she said, still smiling. "And seriously, be careful on the road. It's terrible out there."

Lily didn't even know why she was worrying so much about a rider, maybe it was just the desire to talk to someone. Someone who apparently had no desire to reciprocate, but he was there.. better than nothing. Was she crazy? Maybe.

There was no response, no acknowledgment beyond that initial nod. He turned away, walking into the downpour as if the rain didn't bother him at all. The black helmet and jacket melted into the stormy darkness, leaving Lily standing at the door, her arms clutching the warm bag of food.

She lingered for a moment, her smile fading slightly as her thoughts swirled.

It was strange, wasn't it? This wasn't the same restaurant as last time. And yet… it was him again. The same silent figure. The same unnerving stillness.

Shaking off the thought, she stepped back inside and closed the door behind her, the warmth of the house a sharp contrast to the chill of the storm. She set the food on the counter and glanced toward the study, where her dad's quiet muttering signaled he was still on his call.

Her stomach grumbled, pulling her attention back to the meal in front of her. She'd think about the odd coincidence later. For now, there was nothing to do but eat.

Lily twirled a strand of noodles around her chopsticks, the warmth of the broth soothing against the coolness that still clung to her skin from the open door. The storm outside raged on, thunder rumbling faintly in the distance, but the rhythmic patter of rain against the windows was oddly calming.

She glanced toward the study, where her dad's muffled voice carried through the walls. He was still deep in conversation, barely taking a breath between words. Typical.

With a small smile, she focused back on her meal, the savory aroma bringing a sense of normalcy to her otherwise jumbled thoughts. The strange delivery guy crossed her mind again, but she brushed it off. There was no use overthinking it.

Her phone buzzed against the table, the vibration faint but enough to pull her attention. She reached for it, expecting a text from Claire or maybe even Koji finally breaking his silence.

But the screen showed an unknown number.

Her thumb hovered over the notification. Who could this be? She tapped it open, her heartbeat quickening as the message appeared.

Unknown Number.

"You should be careful who you trust, Lily-chan ❤️"

The air seemed to thicken around her, her breath catching in her throat. Her chopsticks paused mid-air, noodles dangling forgotten as her eyes stayed glued to the screen. The casual use of her name—Lily-chan—and that red heart at the end sent a shiver down her spine.

Who was this? And how did they know her name?

The storm outside roared louder, as if in answer, and Lily's hand tightened around her phone.