No More Running

The sun was setting, casting a soft golden glow over the rooftop. She had asked Shun to meet her here, away from the office and watching eyes. She needed to be honest, even if it hurt someone who had always been good to her.

When she stepped onto the rooftop, Shun was already there, leaning against the railing with a small, hopeful smile that made her chest ache. He looked calm, hands in his pockets, but his eyes held something—hope, maybe, or quiet acceptance.

"Hey," he said, standing up straighter as she approached, his voice warm but careful.

Hana gave a small, unsure smile, her fingers twisting the hem of her sweater. "Hey."

They stood in silence for a moment, the breeze gently moving her hair and the distant sounds of the city filling the background. It wasn't awkward, but it felt heavy—like both of them knew what was coming.

Shun let out a quiet breath, watching her calmly, which only made her feel worse. "This isn't just a casual chat, is it?" he said, his tone light but his eyes serious.

Hana bit her lip, then nodded, her stomach churning. "No… it's not."

Shun's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes, as if he had already braced himself for what was coming. "Go on," he said, his voice gentle, encouraging.

Hana took a deep breath, steadying herself as she met his gaze. "Shun… I really, really appreciate you. You've always been kind to me, and working with you again has been great. But…" She hesitated, her fingers curling slightly as she struggled to find the right words. "I can't return your feelings."

A pause followed her words, the silence heavy. Then, to her surprise, Shun let out a soft chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck, a little awkward but still kind.

"I kind of figured," he said with a hint of sadness. "I hoped… but I think I already knew."

Hana's chest tightened with guilt, her throat constricting as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. "I'm so sorry, Shun."

He shook his head, offering a reassuring smile that only made her feel worse. "You don't have to apologize for not feeling the same way." He paused, his gaze softening as he added, "It's him, isn't it?"

Hana's breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat. She didn't answer right away, but the way she lowered her gaze gave him all the confirmation he needed.

"Yeah," he said with a small nod, his voice calm but tinged with a quiet sadness. "I thought so."

Hana let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly. "The truth is… I had a crush on Sohei even before joining the special unit. I just kept it to myself because I didn't think it mattered—or that he'd ever notice me."

Shun's expression softened, his eyes meeting hers gently. "And now?"

She looked down, then back up at him, her cheeks flushed. "Now it's different. He sees me. And I didn't expect any of this, but… it's real."

Shun chuckled, the sound warm but bittersweet. "Then that's a good thing, isn't it?"

Hana swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know."

Shun studied her for a moment, then sighed, his shoulders relaxing as if he had finally let go of something he had been holding onto. "Hana, you don't have to feel guilty for liking someone else." 

He gave her a wry smile, his tone gentle but firm. "If anything, I'd rather you be honest than force yourself to give me an answer I want to hear."

The weight in her chest lightened ever so slightly, though the guilt still lingered. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling with gratitude and relief.

Shun stuffed his hands into his pockets, his gaze drifting toward the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky. "You're going to tell him, right?"

Hana stiffened, her heart racing at the thought. "I—"

Before she could respond, the sound of the rooftop door creaking open made them both turn.

Sohei.

He stood in the doorway, hand on the handle, eyes unreadable as he looked at them. His presence was strong as always—dark, focused—but there was something in his expression that made Hana's stomach sink.

"Sohei…" she whispered, barely audible.

Shun gave a short laugh, cutting the tension. "Well. That's my cue," he said lightly, though his smile was sincere. He gave Hana a small nod, then walked past Sohei, patting his shoulder before heading down the stairs.

Hana stayed still, her heart pounding as Sohei stepped.

"Hana," he started, then hesitated, as if he were choosing his words carefully.

But before he could continue, Hana suddenly blurted out, "I was attracted to you the moment I met you."

Sohei stilled, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

Hana felt her face burn as she quickly looked away, her hands gripping the fabric of her sweater tightly. 

"You probably don't remember, but I do. When I first saw you, I thought you were different from anyone I had ever met. And when we started working together, that feeling only grew stronger." She exhaled shakily, her voice trembling as she forced herself to continue. 

"But I kept running because I didn't know how to deal with it," Hana said softly. "I've had crushes before—guys I admired from afar, but it was always one-sided. I got used to being overlooked or watching them fall for someone else."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "But this… this is the first time it's real. The first time someone actually feels the same. And I didn't know what to do with that."

The confession left her breathless, her heart pounding so wildly she thought it might burst. 

For a long moment, Sohei didn't speak. Then, to her surprise, he let out a soft chuckle.

Hana blinked, her cheeks flushing even more. "What?"

"You," he murmured, shaking his head as he stepped closer. "You're so damn frustrating."

Hana scowled, her embarrassment giving way to indignation. "Excuse me?"

Sohei grinned, but it wasn't teasing—it was warm, soft, like he had been waiting to hear those words from her for far too long. "You're telling me you've been panicking this whole time because you like me?"

Hana's face turned an impossible shade of red. "It's not that simple!"

Sohei chuckled, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch lingered, fingers brushing against her cheek before trailing down to her wrist, his thumb running over the pulse point there. "It is, though," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "You like me."

Hana swallowed, her knees feeling weak. "Y-yeah."

"And I like you," he said, his voice softer now, almost tender.

Her breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat as his words sank in.

Sohei tilted his head, smirking slightly. "So what are you so scared of?"

Hana's gaze dropped, her fingers curling into the fabric of her sleeves. "Of messing this up," she admitted, barely above a whisper. "Of feeling too much and losing it all. Of being too much."

Sohei's expression softened, and without hesitation, he stepped closer, closing the space between them. "You're not too much," he said gently. "And if we mess up… we figure it out. Together."

Her eyes lifted to meet his, wide and searching. The vulnerability in her expression was raw, but Sohei didn't flinch. He reached for her hand, interlacing their fingers.

"I don't want perfect," he added. "I just want you."

Sohei sighed, his grip on her wrist tightening slightly. "Hana," he murmured, his voice softer now, more careful. "I'm not going anywhere. So stop running."

Her heart clenched at the quiet sincerity in his tone. Slowly, hesitantly, she let out a breath and nodded. "Okay."

Sohei's lips curved into a slow smile. "Good."

Then, before she could react, he reached out, flicking her forehead lightly with his fingers.

"Ah—ow!" Hana yelped, stepping back to glare at him. "What was that for?"

Sohei grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "For making me wait."

Hana huffed, rubbing her forehead, but she couldn't hide the small, embarrassed smile tugging at her lips. 

Hana's breath caught as his fingers laced with hers, the warmth of his touch grounding her in the moment. Her heart thudded in her chest, loud and fast, but for once—it wasn't fear. It was something softer. Braver.

Sohei's gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes, giving her a moment to pull away. But she didn't.

She leaned in first.

Their lips met gently, almost shy at first, but it deepened as the world around them seemed to blur and fade. The rain had slowed to a whisper, the city distant. All she could feel was him—his steady grip on her hand, the soft press of his mouth, the quiet promise in his touch.

When they finally parted, Sohei rested his forehead lightly against hers. "See?" he murmured, a smile in his voice. "Not so scary after all."

Hana let out a soft laugh, her cheeks still burning. "Maybe not with you."

Sohei chuckled, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. "Good. Then stop running, Hana."

Sohei gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. "Work is starting."

"Yeah," she said softly, eyes still lingering on his.As they headed toward the elevator, she couldn't stop the smile creeping across her face.