Refuge in His Heartbeat

I hope you'll forgive me. This chapter was written without love or anything like that. Reason? I want to keep my streak clean, and I was very tired today because of the insomnia that I'm fighting with some pills that were prescribed to me. So the tiredness that I feel now is much greater, and I haven't been able to stop sleeping all day. I hope you understand. I'm working on the next chapter, which was done with a lot of effort.

....

Chapter 6: Refuge in His Heartbeat

The air felt heavy as I walked toward Haruna's house. Each step I took seemed to echo louder in my ears, even though the streets were deserted. No one around, not even a stray dog, and the swirling fog enveloping me didn't help. It felt as if I were walking in a dream—one of those where you know something bad is about to happen, but you can't stop it. 

—Why is it so empty...? —I muttered to myself, clutching the bag with the things I had bought. A shiver ran down my spine, as if someone were watching me from within the fog. 

And then I heard that voice. 

—Don't you think this is a bit too dramatic, Ryota? —Amaterasu's laughter echoed in my head like a mocking chorus, disorienting me even more. Her tone was teasing, almost playful, but there was something unsettling about it. 

—What do you want now? —I growled under my breath, glancing around like a madman, though I knew I couldn't see her. It was just her voice, always intruding where it didn't belong. 

—Oh, nothing… just enjoying this little show. You, walking through these empty streets like the protagonist of some cheap horror movie. You should see your face. —The laughter came again, clear and crystalline, and I couldn't help but scowl. 

—I'm not in the mood for your games, Amaterasu. What's going on? Why does this feel so strange? —I spoke to her in my mind, trying to stay calm, but the unease refused to fade. 

—Strange? Oh, Ryota... this is more than strange. It's serious. Very serious. —Her voice shifted slightly, though there was still mockery in her tone. —I'd say it's as if death is lurking around. 

I froze in my tracks, my breath catching for a moment. Something in her tone made my heart start pounding harder. 

—What the hell are you saying? —I asked, trying to stand my ground. —If you know something, just tell me already. 

—Kazuki. —The name left her lips like a venomous whisper. And in that instant, my body tensed. 

—What? —The bag in my hand almost slipped from my grip. I felt a knot in my stomach. —What about Kazuki? 

—Oh, nothing… just that he's home. —She let out another laugh, as if she had just told the best joke in the world. 

—WHAT!? —I shouted, my steps quickening before I could even think about it. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest. —What the hell is he doing there? Amaterasu, this isn't the time for your jokes! 

—Relax, kid. —Her tone was now almost lazy, but still carried that hint of amusement that drove me insane. —I'm just saying you should hurry. Or maybe not… Maybe it'll be fun to see how this all ends. 

—Shut up! —I screamed in my mind, my breathing heavy as I began to run. The fog grew thicker, and the air felt denser with each step, making it harder to move forward. 

—Oh, Ryota, I love it when you get angry. You're so entertaining. But anyway, what will you do? Will you show up as the hero? —Her voice kept echoing in my head, each word a reminder that something terrible could be happening. 

—I told you to shut up! —I growled, clenching my teeth as I ran faster. I couldn't afford to stop. Haruna was home, alone. And if what Amaterasu said was true… 

My legs burned, and the cold air stung my lungs, but I didn't care. I could only think about getting there in time. No matter how many taunts Amaterasu threw my way, nothing could distract me from the sense of urgency eating away at me. I had to get there. I had to protect her. 

....

My tears fell endlessly as my body trembled uncontrollably. I could feel the rough texture of the ropes digging into my wrists, leaving me completely defenseless. In front of me, Kazuki paced around the room as if he were evaluating every corner, every detail. His steps were slow, deliberate, and his gaze... that gaze full of disgust made me shrink even more into the spot where I was sitting. 

—This place...? —he muttered with a grimace, running his fingers over the small table beside the bed. Then he glanced at the sheets with an expression of absolute revulsion. —Here? Really here? In this… bed. With him? 

My breath caught, and my chest rose and fell rapidly as I tried to contain my panic. 

—How could you, Haruna? —Kazuki turned to me, his voice laden with bitterness. —How could you betray me like this? Me? 

His eyes bore into mine, searching for an answer, but I couldn't say anything. My mouth was covered, and even if it weren't, I don't know if I would've had the words to reply. Fear had paralyzed me. 

—With Ryota, of all people? —he continued, his tone rising with every word. —That bastard... that abuser. That worthless nobody who doesn't deserve anything, least of all you. 

I wanted to scream at him, to tell him he was wrong, that Ryota was nothing like what he said, but I couldn't. All that came out of me were muffled sounds as my tears fell uncontrollably. 

Kazuki let out a bitter laugh and shook his head. —Do you know what the worst part is? That even after everything, even after you betrayed me, I still think about you. I still wonder what I did wrong. 

Suddenly, he stopped in front of me and crouched down to my level. I felt my body tense as his eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of hatred and... something else. Something I didn't want to identify. 

—Why, Haruna? —he whispered, as if he truly expected an answer this time. 

With a harsh motion, he pulled the cloth from my mouth, and I felt the cold air hit my dry lips. In that moment, fear turned into anger. 

—Kazuki, you're insane! —I yelled at him, my voice trembling but full of fury. —Let me go right now! What the hell do you think you're doing?! 

He said nothing, simply staring at me with a twisted smile that sent chills down my spine. 

—Ryota isn't like you say! He would never hurt me! He's nothing like you! —I kept shouting, the words spilling out without filter, as if they could erase this nightmare. —You're a coward, Kazuki! A damned coward! 

For a moment, I thought my words had reached him. His smile disappeared, and his gaze darkened even more. But then, he began to laugh. A low, slow laugh that gradually grew louder until it filled the entire room. 

—Is that all you have to say? —he murmured through his laughter. Without warning, he grabbed the cloth again and forced it back over my mouth, tying it tighter this time. 

—You've said enough, Haruna. —His voice was calm, but there was something terrifying in his tone, as if he were savoring every second of my despair. 

I wanted to scream again, to fight against the ropes binding me, but it was useless. My eyes filled with tears once more as Kazuki stood up and resumed pacing the room, as if all of this were a game to him. 

And I could do nothing but sit there, silently praying that Ryota would arrive in time. 

My eyes filled with tears as I watched Kazuki look at me with that icy coldness. There was something in his gaze that paralyzed me, that made me feel as if all the air had been ripped from my lungs. My heart pounded uncontrollably, each beat echoing in my ears like a war drum. Inside, I was begging, pleading for him not to do what I feared, for all of this not to happen. 

—Kazuki... please... —I murmured through the fabric covering my mouth, my voice barely audible but filled with desperation. 

He didn't respond. Instead, he took a step toward me, his movements slow, deliberate, like a predator who knew its prey had no escape. Suddenly, he grabbed my cheeks tightly, his fingers pressing so hard that pain radiated across my face. 

—Haruna... —he said in a low tone, almost a whisper, but brimming with latent menace. Without warning, he shoved me to the ground, my body hitting the cold floor with a dull thud. Before I could react, I felt him position himself over me, completely immobilizing me. 

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears streaming down the sides of my face. I didn't want to see him. I didn't want to face what was about to happen. My body trembled with fear, but I couldn't move, I couldn't fight. 

I felt his fingers slide slowly through my hair, a gesture that might have seemed tender under different circumstances but now filled me with nothing but terror. 

—Do you remember how it all started, Haruna? —his voice broke the silence, soft but dripping with venom. —Do you remember when we met? 

I didn't want to answer. I didn't want to listen. But I had no choice. 

—We were two kids, two broken souls... —he continued, his tone almost nostalgic. —You, with those sad eyes, always hiding behind your books. And me... me, who had no one. 

I wanted to pull away, to escape, but my body wouldn't obey. 

—And then there was Ryota. —His tone shifted immediately, becoming harsh, filled with resentment. —Ryota and his damned friends. Do you remember what they did to us? How they mocked us? How they beat us? 

My mind traveled, against my will, to those dark days. To the cruel laughter, the shoves, the endless insults. But they weren't memories of Ryota... they couldn't be. 

—You protected me, Haruna. —Kazuki's voice grew stronger, as if he were trying to convince me of something. —You were always there for me. Every time they made me cry, every time they hurt me, you were there to pick me up. 

I wanted to scream at him that he was wrong, that Ryota wasn't like that, that all of this was a lie. But I couldn't. 

—And then what happened? —he whispered, leaning closer, so close that I could feel his breath on my skin. —Ryota took everything from us. He stole our happiness, our peace. And you let him into your life, Haruna! How could you? 

I opened my eyes, my tears blurring my vision as I looked at his face, full of anger and pain. 

—Kazuki, please... you don't have to do this... —I tried to say, but my voice barely came out, choked by my own fear. 

He didn't answer. Instead, he let out a bitter laugh and rested his forehead against mine, a gesture I couldn't interpret. His fingers remained tangled in my hair, and my body continued to tremble, unable to react. 

—You don't have a choice, Haruna —he finally said, his voice now low and filled with something I couldn't define. —You saved me once, and now I'm going to save you. I'm going to make you forgive me for my mistakes. 

My mind filled with a mix of confusion and horror as his words echoed in my head. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want this. But I didn't know how to escape. I didn't know if I could. 

My entire body was paralyzed as I felt Kazuki leaning over me, his lips slowly drawing closer. His breathing was heavy, and my heart was pounding with a force that felt like it would burst out of my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, praying that this was all just a nightmare, that I would wake up at any moment in the safety of my bed. 

—Ryota… —I murmured without realizing it, barely a whisper loaded with desperation. 

Suddenly, a crash shattered the heavy silence. My eyes flew open, and the next thing I saw was Kazuki's body being violently thrown to the side. A foot had struck him directly in the torso, sending him rolling across the floor with a groan of pain. 

—What the hell…?! —Kazuki growled, lifting his gaze, but before he could react, Ryota was already on top of him. 

Ryota, his face transformed into a mask of fury, grabbed Kazuki by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him slightly off the ground before landing the first punch. The sound of the impact echoed in the room, sharp and resounding. 

—What do you think you're doing, Kazuki?! —Ryota shouted, his deep voice seething with rage as his fist connected with Kazuki's face again. 

Kazuki tried to block the blows, raising his hands to defend himself, but Ryota was unstoppable. His punches came one after another, with a bottled-up fury that seemed to overflow with each strike. 

—Ryota, stop! —I screamed, my voice trembling, but Ryota didn't seem to hear me. His focus was entirely fixed on Kazuki, who was now struggling uselessly to free himself. 

—You sick bastard! —Ryota spat through gritted teeth, grabbing Kazuki by the collar again and lifting him off the ground before hurling him to the side. Kazuki's body collided with a table, sending objects crashing to the floor with a loud clatter. 

Kazuki gasped, clutching his ribs as he struggled to get up. Despite his situation, a crooked smile spread across his face, as though he enjoyed seeing Ryota lose control. 

—Are you going to kill me, Ryota? —Kazuki said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, though it trembled with pain. —Is this how you plan to protect her? 

Ryota approached him again, his heavy footsteps echoing on the floor, and grabbed him by the neck once more, lifting him slightly. 

—This isn't about protecting her! —Ryota growled, bringing his face close to Kazuki's, his eyes burning with fury. —This is about teaching you that you can't do whatever you want and get away with it! 

Kazuki let out a dry laugh, coughing slightly from the pressure on his neck. 

—You're just the same as always, Ryota… —he whispered, his voice barely audible. —Violent, impulsive… How long until she sees who you really are? 

Kazuki's words seemed to cut deep because Ryota suddenly let him go, letting him drop to the floor. For a moment, everything was silent except for the sound of their heavy breathing. 

I was still on the floor, unable to move, my body trembling as I watched Ryota standing over Kazuki, his body tense and his chest rising and falling rapidly. 

—Haruna, are you okay? —Ryota asked suddenly, turning to me. His voice had lost some of its hardness, and for a moment, I saw concern in his eyes. 

I nodded slowly, though I couldn't speak. The words wouldn't come out of my throat. All I could do was stare at Ryota, my mind still trying to process what had just happened. 

Kazuki, meanwhile, was still on the floor, his face covered in bruises, and that twisted smile still lingered. 

—This isn't over… —he muttered, his voice barely audible but loud enough for Ryota to hear. 

Ryota shot him a glare before walking over to me, crouching down to untie the ropes binding my hands. When he finally freed me, I couldn't help but throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around him tightly as tears streamed down my face. 

—Thank you… —I whispered, my voice barely audible as I buried my face in his shoulder. 

Ryota didn't say anything. He simply returned the embrace, his body still tense as if he were waiting for Kazuki's next move. 

...

My heart stopped as I saw Kazuki, his face marked by Ryota's punches and barely able to stand, somehow manage to get to his feet. Something in his eyes froze the blood in my veins; there was no trace left of the person I once knew. His gaze was filled with hatred and desperation, and in his right hand, he held a table lamp he had picked up from the floor without me noticing. 

Everything happened too fast. Kazuki, moving with surprising speed given his condition, raised the lamp and smashed it hard against Ryota's head. 

—Ryota! —I screamed, my voice breaking as I watched the impact cause Ryota to stumble before falling to his knees on the floor. 

The lamp shattered into countless pieces, and the sound of the glass breaking echoed throughout the room. A thin stream of blood began to run down the side of Ryota's head, staining his hair and dripping slowly onto the floor. 

Kazuki looked at him with a mix of triumph and rage, breathing heavily as he let what remained of the lamp fall from his hand. 

—You're a piece of trash, Ryota! —he shouted, his voice dripping with searing hatred—. Do you think you can just show up here, play the hero, and get away with it? You've always been the same damned bully! 

Ryota tried to get up, but he was visibly dazed. He brought a hand to his head, feeling the blood still flowing, while Kazuki continued his verbal assault. 

—This is all your fault! —Kazuki yelled, taking a step toward Ryota—. You ruined my life, you stole Haruna from me, and you destroyed everything I ever had! You don't deserve anything, you worthless bastard! 

But then, despite his condition, Ryota lifted his head and, in a move I didn't see coming, launched himself at Kazuki. Their bodies collided with force, both of them crashing to the ground, locked in a chaotic struggle. 

Kazuki hit hard, throwing wild punches at Ryota's face and torso. Each blow echoed through the room, and the sound of fists connecting with flesh was unbearable. Ryota, though clearly affected by the earlier blow, didn't stop. His arms wrapped around Kazuki, trying to pin him to the ground. 

—Enough, Kazuki! —Ryota shouted, his voice firm despite the blood now staining his face. 

Kazuki wasn't listening. He kept fighting with every ounce of strength he had, thrashing against Ryota while screaming incoherent words. But then, in the midst of the chaos, Ryota turned his head toward me, his eyes blazing with determination. 

—Haruna, call the police! —he yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. 

I froze for a moment, fear paralyzing me as I watched Ryota do everything he could to hold Kazuki down. But when I heard his voice again, more urgent this time, my body finally reacted. 

—Haruna, do it now! —he shouted, taking another punch from Kazuki but refusing to let go. 

Without thinking any further, I scrambled to my feet, stumbling, and ran toward the nearest phone. My hands trembled as I dialed the emergency number. Behind me, I could still hear the sounds of their struggle, Kazuki's screams, and Ryota's grunts as they wrestled on the floor. 

—Please, I need help! —I said, my voice trembling as I spoke to the operator—. There's a man attacking my partner, and he's hurt! Please, come quickly! 

As I gave the address, my gaze flicked back to the scene. Kazuki was still fighting with almost inhuman strength, but Ryota wouldn't let him escape, holding onto him with everything he had, even as his own blood stained the floor beneath them. 

The tension in the room was unbearable. As I spoke with the operator, my heart was pounding so fast it felt like it might explode. My eyes never left the scene in front of me, where Ryota and Kazuki were still locked in a brutal struggle. 

—Please, send help quickly! —I repeated to the operator, my voice trembling—. We're in an apartment complex near downtown Shibuya, on the street... —I gave the exact address, stumbling over my words as the urgency overwhelmed me. 

Suddenly, I heard Ryota's voice, full of desperation and anger, trying to reason with Kazuki. 

—Kazuki, stop! —he shouted between gasps, his voice on the verge of breaking—. You don't have to keep doing this! Stop! 

But Kazuki wasn't listening. His fists kept raining down on Ryota, one after another, with uncontrollable rage. Each blow seemed to drain more and more strength from Ryota, who could barely defend himself. 

—Bastard! —Kazuki spat, his eyes burning with fury—. You don't understand anything! This is all your fault! 

My breath caught for a moment as I saw Ryota, visibly exhausted, make one last effort. With a quick and desperate move, he reached out and wrapped his hands around Kazuki's neck, starting to squeeze. 

—Kazuki, stop this damn madness! —Ryota shouted with a mix of anger and anguish, his hands tightening around Kazuki's neck. 

Kazuki thrashed at first, his hands clawing at Ryota's arms as he tried to break free, but his movements gradually grew weaker. His face turned red, and his breathing became erratic. 

—No, no, no...! —I murmured in a choked whisper, watching as Kazuki's strength slowly faded away. 

Finally, Ryota loosened his grip, letting his hands fall to his sides, panting heavily. Kazuki collapsed to the floor beside him, also gasping for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Both of them were completely spent, their bodies trembling from the effort. 

I let the phone drop from my ear for a moment, unable to process what I had just witnessed. The operator was still speaking to me, but my eyes were glued to Ryota and Kazuki, who now lay on the floor, breathing heavily but with no more violence between them. 

—Miss, are you still there? —the operator's voice cut through the fog in my mind, pulling me back to reality. 

—Yes, yes, I'm here... —I replied, my voice barely a whisper. I repeated the address again, making sure they knew exactly where we were. 

I looked at Ryota. His face was covered in blood and sweat, his eyes barely open as he struggled to steady his breathing. Kazuki was in a similar state, though his gaze was still full of hatred, even in his weakness. 

The silence that fell over the room was heavy, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing. I felt my legs trembling, barely able to hold myself up against the wall as I waited for the police to arrive. How had it come to this? How had everything gone so terribly wrong?

....

The sound of sirens still echoed in my ears as the scene filled with blue uniforms and authoritative voices. The flashing lights of the emergency vehicles illuminated the room intermittently, creating a surreal atmosphere. Officers moved quickly, and I overheard one of them mentioning something about the neighbors. 

—Apparently, they already called this morning —one officer said to his partner—. They saw him loitering around the area, acting suspiciously. 

My heart sank at those words. How long had Kazuki been lurking? How long had he been planning this? 

The paramedics were tending to Ryota, cleaning the wounds on his face and checking for any serious injuries. I saw another team doing the same for Kazuki, though a couple of officers stood watch over him closely. Despite everything, Kazuki's eyes still burned with hatred and resentment, now mixed with exhaustion. 

I couldn't stop crying. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks, blurring my vision. Without thinking, I ran to Ryota, ignoring everything else around me. 

—Ryota! —I cried, kneeling beside him and wrapping my arms around him. I hugged him tightly, as if letting go would turn all of this into an even worse nightmare. 

—Miss, please, let us work —one of the paramedics said, gently trying to move me away from Ryota. 

But before they could insist, Ryota raised a hand with a clear gesture. 

—Let her stay here —he said in a hoarse voice, barely audible but firm. 

The paramedics exchanged glances, hesitating for a moment, but finally stepped back, allowing me to remain by his side as they continued treating his wounds. 

I felt Ryota's fingers gently run through my hair, a gesture that sent shivers through me. My breathing hitched for a moment, but then, little by little, I relaxed. I closed my eyes, letting that small gesture bring me a fleeting sense of calm amidst the chaos. 

—Haruna... I'm fine —Ryota murmured, his voice barely a whisper. 

I shook my head, burying my face in his shoulder as my body trembled. 

—No, you're not fine —I whispered through tears—. All of this... all of this is my fault. 

Ryota tried to say something else, but his words caught in his throat. Instead, he continued stroking my hair, holding me with his other hand. His warmth comforted me, but the weight of what had just happened still crushed me. 

Around me, the voices of officers and paramedics blended with the sound of the sirens. But in that moment, all that mattered was Ryota—alive and by my side, despite everything that had happened. 

I couldn't let him go. My grip on Ryota's arm was firm, almost as if I feared that if I let go, he would disappear. He, despite everything, didn't try to pull away, though I could sense his heavy breathing as he spoke to an officer. 

—I understand —Ryota said, his tone tired but serious—. We'll go to the station tomorrow to handle all the necessary paperwork. 

The officer nodded, patting him gently on the shoulder. 

—Get some rest tonight, kid. You've been through a lot. We'll sort everything out tomorrow. 

Ryota murmured a word of thanks, and after the officer left, we stood together by the door. I refused to let go of his arm, my head bowed, tears still streaking my face. 

—Haruna... —Ryota murmured as he turned slightly toward me. 

I shook my head, unable to respond. Without saying anything else, we stepped into the house. It was dark and silent, as if the events from moments ago had drained all the life from the place. 

As we walked toward the living room, Ryota tried to lighten the mood. 

—Looks like I'll be stuck with this bandage on my head for a while. —He tried to smile, carefully touching the bandage. His attempt to joke was obvious—. The paramedics said it's nothing serious, but they sure made me feel like a wounded gladiator in some old movie. 

I didn't respond. My hands stayed clenched around his arm, my gaze fixed on the floor. I could feel his eyes on me, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. 

—Haruna, aren't you going to say anything? —he asked softly. 

I could only shake my head again, the memories of what had happened still weighing on my mind like a stone. Ryota sighed, though he didn't seem upset. 

We reached the sofa in the living room, and he dropped onto it with a sigh of relief. I followed, sitting down beside him without letting go of his arm. The silence in the house felt overwhelming, yet at the same time, it was a relief after the chaos of the night. 

Ryota leaned back slightly on the sofa. I noticed how his gaze softened as he looked at me. 

—Haruna, you're trembling —he murmured, his tone so gentle that it hurt more than anything else. 

I didn't know how to respond. I didn't want to cry again, but the tears kept threatening to fall. All I could do was sit there beside him, my mind struggling to process everything that had happened. 

Time seemed to stop when I felt Ryota's arm carefully wrapping around me, gently pulling me closer to him. My breath hitched for a moment, and I couldn't help but stiffen, surprised by the gesture. But that warmth radiating from his body, that sense of security he always seemed to exude even in the most difficult moments, began to ease my tension. 

—Come here, Haruna —he murmured in a low, warm voice, almost like a whisper meant only for me. 

Before I realized it, my head was resting against his chest, and I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, that sound that, for some reason, managed to calm my own erratic pulse. His arm remained around me, shielding me as if, in that moment, nothing and no one could harm us. 

Ryota leaned back a bit more on the sofa, settling in, and the movement left me completely lying against his chest. I could feel the rise and fall of his breathing beneath me, that steady, comforting rhythm wrapping around me like a blanket. 

—Haruna... —he said softly, his voice vibrating against my ear due to our closeness—. You're trembling again. 

—I'm sorry... —I managed to murmur, my voice barely audible. 

—Don't apologize —he replied firmly, though his tone remained tender—. After everything that happened, I think it's normal to feel this way. 

I closed my eyes, letting my body relax completely against him. My fingers clung lightly to his shirt, as if I needed to make sure he was really there, that this wasn't a dream. 

—Haruna, I'm here. Everything's okay now —he said, his hand beginning to stroke my hair with slow, gentle movements. 

That simple action was enough for a solitary tear to escape my eyes. I didn't say anything, but the warmth of his hand in my hair and the firmness of his arm around me made me feel safer than ever. 

—You know? —Ryota continued after a moment of silence—. I don't even know how I got here so quickly, but I guess my body just reacted. 

—You got here just in time... —I murmured, my voice almost breaking. 

—I hope so —he said, letting out a small, nervous laugh—. Though, to be honest, I think the lamp won this fight. 

I couldn't help it; a soft laugh escaped my lips, though it quickly turned into a stifled sob. Ryota stopped talking, and his hand paused in my hair. 

—Haruna... —he whispered, and this time I could hear the concern in his voice—. Please, don't cry anymore. I don't like seeing you like this. 

—I can't help it —I admitted, burying my face in his chest—. Everything that happened... it was too much. I thought... I thought I was going to lose you. 

—Lose me? —he asked, a mix of disbelief and gentleness in his tone—. Haruna, I'm not going anywhere. Never. 

His words embraced me more tightly than his arms ever could. I lifted my head slightly, just enough to meet his eyes. They were filled with a sincerity that left me speechless, as if he truly wanted to make sure I believed every word he had just said. 

—I promise you, as long as I can breathe, I'll be here for you —he continued, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race—. No matter what happens. 

I couldn't stop the tears from falling again, but this time they weren't out of fear or sadness. They were tears of relief. I lowered my head once more, resting it on his chest, and let that moment envelop us both. 

The silence filled the room, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was a silence heavy with emotions, with unspoken words that didn't need to be said. Ryota kept stroking my hair, and I could feel how his breathing began to calm, just like mine. 

—You know? —he said after a while, softly breaking the silence—. This sofa isn't as comfortable as it looks. 

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh, the first genuine one of the night. 

—Then why don't you move? —I asked, my voice still slightly shaky. 

—Because you're here, and I wouldn't want to ruin the moment —he replied, sounding completely sincere. 

My face grew warm, but I didn't respond. Instead, I closed my eyes and let his warmth completely surround me. In that moment, with his heart beating beneath my ear and his arms protecting me, I felt like nothing in the world could hurt me.