The Launch

By the end of the third month, the Katagiri Group officially launched its much-anticipated perfume collection with an elegant press event. Held in a modern, glass-walled venue decorated with flowers and soft lighting, the event was attended by top industry professionals, media, and partners. 

Hana stood near the edge of the room in a simple yet elegant dress, her fingers nervously circling the rim of her champagne glass. She scanned the room, feeling a mix of pride and nerves. She'd been to company events before, but nothing like this. The scale, the people, the atmosphere—it was overwhelming. And to top it off, Sohei hadn't left her side all night. His presence was comforting and incredibly distracting.

"You're hovering," Hana muttered, taking a small sip of her drink as Sohei leaned in slightly. His suit fit him perfectly, the dark fabric emphasizing his broad shoulders and quiet confidence. He stood close, his arm brushing hers, and she caught the familiar scent of his cologne—subtle, clean, and unmistakably him.

"So?" he replied with a teasing smirk, his fingers briefly brushing the small of her back.

The light touch sent a shiver through her, and she had to resist the urge to move closer.

She gave him a sharp look, cheeks flushing as she glanced around. "People are watching," she whispered, her tone low and urgent.

"Let them," he murmured, his voice smooth and utterly unbothered as he took a sip of his own drink, his dark eyes never leaving hers. 

Her face burned, her mind scrambling for a response as she tried to ignore the way her stomach fluttered at his words. Sohei's hand settled firmly on her lower back, guiding her gently toward the center of the room.

"Relax," he said, his voice calm but firm as he glanced down at her, his expression softening. "You've worked hard for this. Enjoy it."

Hana swallowed, her heart still racing but her nerves easing slightly as she looked up at him. 

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible but enough to make his lips curve into a small, satisfied smile.

As they moved through the crowd, Sohei's hand never left her back, his touch a constant reminder that he was there, that she wasn't alone. 

Soon, Mr. Katagiri's voice boomed across the room, commanding the attention of everyone in attendance. The chatter died down instantly, and all eyes turned to the front of the ballroom, where Mr. Katagiri stood with a proud expression, his presence as commanding as ever. "Tonight, we celebrate not just the success of this perfume collection, but the brilliant minds behind it," he announced, his voice carrying the weight of someone who had built an empire from the ground up. 

He glanced at Hayato, who stood beside him, his expression calm but confident. "Hayato has played a crucial role in this project, and I have no doubt that under his leadership, Katagiri Group will continue to thrive." A round of applause followed, the sound echoing through the grand ballroom as Hayato stepped forward, bowing respectfully before addressing the crowd.

"Thank you, Father," Hayato said, his voice calm and confident. "This success belongs to the amazing team behind me. I'll keep working hard to help the company grow."

His eyes briefly met Sohei and Hana's before moving on, and they felt a proud warmth in their chest for everything the team had achieved.

The applause grew again, then slowly faded as the guests returned to chatting, the room once more filled with energy and celebration.

Hana was still processing the moment when she felt a nudge at her side. She turned to see Sohei standing close, his expression unreadable but his eyes gleaming with something that made her stomach flip. "Come with me," he murmured, his tone leaving no room for protest as he gently took her hand.

She frowned, her heart already beginning to race. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he replied, his smirk faint but unmistakable as he began leading her through the crowd.

Hana found herself being gently pulled along, the warmth of Sohei's hand against hers sending a jolt of electricity through her. She tried to ignore the way her pulse quickened, the way her mind raced with possibilities, but she couldn't shake the bad feeling creeping up on her. Her instincts were proven correct when they stopped in front of an elegantly dressed couple—Mr. and Mrs. Katagiri.

Hana froze, her breath catching in her throat as she realized what was happening. "Sohei," she whispered, her eyes widening in pure horror. "Are you—"

"Sohei," Mr. Katagiri greeted, nodding at his son with a calm but knowing expression. "I was wondering when you'd bring her over."

Her mind went blank. Wait. He was expecting this?!

Sohei smirked, ignoring the panicked look she was throwing at him as he stepped forward. "Father, Mother—this is Hana. She worked on the perfume project with us. She's also Chiaki's good friend at work."

Hana bowed quickly, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it. "It's an honor to meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Katagiri," she said, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to sound composed.

Mrs. Katagiri smiled warmly, her eyes kind but sharp, as if she were already assessing Hana in ways that made her feel both seen and exposed. "Sohei's spoken quite a bit about you," she said, her tone light but laced with meaning.

Hana blinked, her mind racing. "He—what?"

Mrs. Katagiri chuckled, the sound soft but amused. "Oh yes. He doesn't normally introduce his girlfriend to us. But it seems he's made an exception for you."

Hana felt Sohei's smirk without even having to look at him, and she fought the urge to elbow him in the ribs. "Mother," he said, his voice smooth and calm, "you're making her nervous."

Mrs. Katagiri sighed dramatically while her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I just wanted to see what kind of girl could possibly capture my son's attention. And I must say, Hana, you're even lovelier in person."

Hana felt her face burn, her cheeks flushing as she struggled to find the right words. "I—thank you," she stammered, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

She turned slightly toward Sohei, her voice barely above a whisper. "You didn't warn me about this!"

Sohei leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, "You would've overthought it. This way, I got to see you blush in front of my parents."

Hana almost stomped on his foot, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel. 

Mrs. Katagiri, clearly entertained, exchanged an amused glance with her husband before turning back to Hana. "Well, Hana, I do hope we'll be seeing more of you in the future."

Hana forced a polite smile, still very flustered. "I—um—"

"She will," Sohei answered smoothly before she could finish, his tone confident and unwavering.

After what felt like an eternity, Sohei finally led her away from his parents, his hand lingering at the small of her back as they moved through the crowd. The warmth of his touch was both comforting and maddening, a constant reminder of how effortlessly he could unravel her composure. Hana exhaled sharply, her heart still racing from the encounter. "You are the worst," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with exasperation but also a hint of relief to be away from the spotlight.

Sohei glanced down at her, his smirk faint but unmistakable. "You did great," he said, ignoring her glare as they walked. "My mother likes you."

Hana blinked, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at him. "That was liking me?" she asked, her tone incredulous.

"Mm," he hummed, his expression amused. "If she didn't, she would've been polite but distant." He paused, his smirk widening as he added, "Instead, she embarrassed you. That's a good sign."

Hana groaned, covering her face with her hands as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "I hate you," she muttered. 

Sohei chuckled, his voice low and warm, and before Hana could respond, he gently pulled her into a quiet hallway, away from the noise and curious eyes of the party.

"Sohei—" she started, her voice tinged with both curiosity and caution, but she barely had time to process before she found herself pressed lightly against the wall, Sohei leaning in dangerously close.

Her breath stopped, her heart pounding as she looked up at him, his dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her stomach flip. His hands rested on either side of her, effectively trapping her, though his touch was light, almost teasing. "Still mad at me?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, the hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

Hana swallowed hard, her fingers instinctively gripping the fabric of his suit jacket as she tried to steady herself. "Yes," she whispered, though her voice trembled slightly, betraying her true feelings.

"Liar," he murmured, his lips grazing just below her ear, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down her spine.

Hana's breath caught, her mind scrambling for words. "Sohei," she hissed, gripping his jacket. "Someone might see—"

"Let them," he said, voice calm but laced with something deeper, something that made her pulse jump. "Or are you running again?"

Her face burned as she glared at him. She should've pushed him away, told him off for being so bold. But instead, her hands stayed where they were, clutching his jacket tighter as she struggled to steady her breath.

"You're so annoying," she muttered, barely above a whisper, trying to ignore how fast her heart was beating.

Sohei chuckled softly, brushing his nose against hers, his smirk growing. "And yet, you haven't walked away."

Hana closed her eyes for a second, hoping to calm herself—but it didn't help. He was too close, too warm, too much.

Then—without thinking—she tilted her chin and brushed her lips softly against his.

Hana barely had time to register what she'd done before Sohei's breath hitched, his fingers tangling gently in her hair as he pulled her closer. His lips moved against hers, slow and teasing at first, as if savoring the taste of her. 

A shiver ran down her spine as his other hand slid around her waist, pressing her flush against him. The heat of his body seeped into hers, and she melted into the kiss, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. 

When he nipped lightly at her bottom lip, a quiet gasp escaped her, and Sohei took full advantage, deepening the kiss with a hunger that made her knees weak. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she opened for him willingly, losing herself in the slow, intoxicating rhythm of his mouth moving against hers. 

As they stepped back into the ballroom, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The music had picked up again, laughter and clinking glasses filling the space. 

Chiaki, who was standing near the dessert table with a glass of champagne in hand, spotted them instantly. Her eyes narrowed playfully as she caught sight of their joined hands.

"Oh? Back so soon?" she called out, arching a brow.

Hana tried to discreetly pull her hand away, but Sohei held on, unfazed. "We just needed a quick breather," he said smoothly, completely ignoring the implication.

Chiaki smirked and took a slow sip. "Mmhm. Sure. You look flushed, Hana."

"Must be the wine," Hana mumbled, cheeks blazing.

Hayato walked over a moment later, giving Sohei a long look. "You good?" he asked, though the slight twitch of his mouth gave him away.

Sohei shrugged, grinning. "Better than ever."

Hana shot him a look, half mortified, half trying not to smile. Chiaki leaned in and stage-whispered, "You guys really don't know how to be subtle, huh?"

"We're working on it," Sohei said without missing a beat, gently placing his hand on Hana's back as he guided her toward their table.

As they sat down, Hana finally leaned close enough to mutter under her breath, "You're enjoying this way too much."

Sohei looked at her, his expression softer now. "I'm enjoying you," he said simply.

Hana turned away to hide her smile, but it was no use. The warmth in her chest was too real to deny.