Chapter 14 – Two Heart Beats in Resonance

Chapter 14 – Two Heartbeats in Resonance

[-Kei-]

The scent of tea filled the air as Miya set two cups on the table, steam curling from their surface. She had originally offered a cold drink, but I had declined, saying that hot tea was better. She didn't argue—just nodded and quietly prepared it instead.

Now, we sat in her living room, a plate of macarons between us, the soft glow of the lamp casting elongated shadows across the walls. The night outside was eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves beyond the window.

Miya wrapped her hands around her cup, staring at the liquid as if lost in thought. I watched her for a moment before taking a sip of my own tea. The warmth spread through my chest, contrasting the cool night air that still clung to my skin.

It was… calming.

She suddenly exhaled softly, breaking the quiet.

"Ah," she muttered. "I forgot I had these." She nudged the plate of macarons toward me. "They probably don't go well with tea, but… I bought them on impulse."

I picked one up without hesitation. "It's fine."

She seemed relieved for some reason.

For a while, we just drank in silence.

It wasn't uncomfortable.

Just quiet.

Then, slowly, we started talking.

About the festival.

About Miku's sudden appearance.

About Hayato's ridiculous attempts to annoy me.

And then, somehow, the conversation shifted.

Miya told me about her childhood—things I hadn't heard before.

"I used to dream of opening a flower shop," she said, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I didn't know much about flowers, but I loved them. I thought it would be nice—to be surrounded by something beautiful every day."

I raised an eyebrow. "You could still do it."

She blinked, as if the thought had never seriously crossed her mind. "Maybe," she murmured. "I don't know if I'd be good at it, though."

I smirked. "You'd probably mess up the pricing and accidentally give customers free bouquets."

She shot me a glare before puffing her cheeks. "Hmph! Stupid Kizaki! What do you think I am, a child? You really think I'd make such a simple mistake?"

I chuckled. "That's debatable."

She nudged my arm, feigning annoyance, but I caught the glint of amusement in her eyes.

Somehow, talking like this felt… natural.

And before I realized it, I was telling her something ridiculous from my past.

"When Hajun and I were kids, we wanted to own a sauna house."

Miya tilted her head. "A sauna house?"

I nodded. "But not just any sauna. We wanted one with separate men's and women's baths… because we thought we could peek at beautiful girls."

Miya nearly choked on her tea. "W-What?"

I smirked. "We were dumb kids."

She covered her mouth, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't imagine Hajun thinking like that."

"Oh, he wasn't as innocent as he looks now," I said flatly. "We even made a plan for it—where to build it, how to make it look like an accident if we 'accidentally' saw something."

Miya burst out laughing.

It was soft but genuine, and I found myself staring at her for a second longer than I should have.

Somehow, the night felt different.

Lighter.

For the first time in a while, I wasn't thinking too much.

I wasn't overanalyzing every word, every glance.

I wasn't second-guessing whether I should be here or not.

It was just… easy.

And I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

[-Miya-]

The warmth of the tea lingered on my lips, but it wasn't just that.

It was this moment.

The way Kei sat across from me, relaxed. The way he listened, actually listened, whenever I spoke.

The way he wasn't his usual cold, indifferent self tonight.

I found myself talking more than usual, sharing things I never thought I would.

Things I didn't think mattered—until now.

But Kei responded to each one, sometimes teasing, sometimes thoughtful.

And in return, he told me things, too.

Like the ridiculous sauna house dream he and Hajun had as kids.

I never imagined Kei being that kind of mischievous.

And yet… it suited him.

Somehow, the thought of a younger, sillier Kei made him seem more—

No.

I shook the thought away.

Instead, I let the silence fill in the blanks.

And for tonight…

That was enough.

[-Kei-]

I didn't realize how late it was until Miya yawned.

Her body sank slightly into the couch, her eyes drooping as if the weight of the day had finally caught up to her.

She looked comfortable.

Too comfortable.

I was about to tell her to go to bed when she mumbled, "Just a little longer…"

Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

I watched her for a moment before leaning back into the cushions myself.

I wasn't tired.

But somehow…

I didn't want to leave yet.

Not tonight.

And before I knew it—

The warmth of the room, the quiet rhythm of her breathing, the lingering scent of tea—

All of it lulled me into the kind of peace I hadn't felt in a long time.

And just like that—

Sleep came without warning.

[-Miya-]

A soft warmth surrounded me.

The faint scent of tea still lingered in the air, mixing with something familiar—something that wasn't mine.

I slowly opened my eyes.

And then I realized.

Kei's arms were around me.

I blinked, my mind sluggish, trying to piece together what had happened. We were talking. Drinking tea. I remembered laughing at something he said… but after that—

How did we end up like this?

I didn't move.

Didn't dare to.

Kei's breath was slow and steady, his chest rising and falling against me. One of his arms rested loosely around my waist, while the other was tucked beneath his head. His warmth seeped through the fabric of my clothes, his presence solid, steady.

We were on my sofa.

I should move.

I should.

But instead…

I stayed.

My head rested against his chest, and without meaning to, I listened.

The steady rhythm of his heartbeat filled the quiet space between us. Calm. Unwavering.

I closed my eyes again.

It was comforting.

I never knew something as simple as this—just listening—could make me feel so at ease.

Kei, who was always guarded.

And yet here we were.

Wrapped in the silence of the early morning, wrapped in each other.

I could feel the rise and fall of his breathing, the warmth of his presence.

And for once, I allowed myself to just… exist in this moment.

No overthinking. No questions.

Just this.

Just him.

Just us.

A small part of me wanted to ask—Are we lovers now?

But instead, I shut my eyes once more and let the rhythm of his heartbeat lull me back into sleep.

And this time, for the first time in a long time…

I slept peacefully.