Trusting Love Again

Sora and Daiki arrived together at the Kazama Residence, the heavy gates opening before them as the staff greeted them politely. Sora looked around as they stepped inside, visibly impressed by the traditional architecture and calm elegance of the space. She leaned slightly toward Daiki and whispered, "So this is where he lives? I feel like I stepped into a historical drama set."

As they stepped inside, Sora bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Granny Chiyo. Emi's told me so much."

Granny Chiyo's eyes softened as she returned the greeting. "So you're the best friend I've heard about. You're just as charming as Daiki described."

Sora blinked in surprise and glanced at Daiki, who gave a casual shrug and smiled. "She came up a few times," he said.

Emi raised an eyebrow. "Wait—when did you talk about Sora in front of Granny?"

Granny Chiyo chuckled as Daiki gave Emi a sheepish look. "Oh, he mentioned her once or twice. Enough for me to take notice."

Emi gave Sora a teasing glance. "Interesting."

Granny Chiyo looked between them with a knowing smile. "Well, you two certainly look good together. This house might just see another young couple form under its roof."

Sora flushed and fumbled for words. "It's not... we're not..."

Emi burst into laughter, and even Daiki looked mildly embarrassed as he ran a hand through his hair, but he didn't say anything to disagree.

After a brief visit with Ren, who was still in recovery and resting in his room, Emi brought Sora out into the garden to catch up in private.

Emi nudged her lightly. "You know, you could seriously consider Daiki. I think he really likes you."

Sora gave her a look but didn't deny it outright. "I don't know… I do feel something when I'm with him. Especially after what happened with the kidnapping. He took care of me. He even came to check on me at home after that night. I didn't ask him to. He just… showed up. And stayed."

Emi's smile softened. "That's Daiki. Quiet but steady."

"But you know what I went through, Emi," Sora continued quietly. "After what my ex did, I just… I don't know if I can trust someone that easily again. I want to, but I feel like part of me is still stuck back there."

Emi reached over and took her hand. "I understand. Truly. But maybe Daiki's the one who will help you believe in love again. Not by words, but by staying beside you. Give yourself time. And give him a chance."

Sora nodded, not saying anything, but her expression softened.

After they left the residence, Daiki glanced at Sora. "Want to grab a coffee?"

She agreed, and they walked to a nearby café. Just as they were about to enter, Sora suddenly halted and pulled on Daiki's sleeve.

"We should go somewhere else," she whispered.

Daiki followed her line of sight and spotted a couple inside. One of them was watching Sora with a surprised expression.

They left without a word, and Daiki didn't press her immediately. He waited until they reached a quieter café and had settled into a corner booth with their drinks.

"So," he said casually, "who were you avoiding just now?"

Sora looked down at her cup. "My ex."

Daiki's jaw tightened slightly. "You still like him?"

She looked up quickly, eyes narrowed. "No. Never again. He's the reason I don't believe in love anymore.He said he loved me, that we'd be together forever. Then he started hitting me when things didn't go his way. Left me bruised and blamed me for it. And after everything, he just walked away like I meant nothing."

Daiki's hands curled slightly around his cup. "I'd never do that."

Sora blinked. The tone of his voice wasn't loud, but it was full of conviction. She hesitated, then said quietly, "Then the girl who ends up with you will be lucky."

Daiki leaned forward just a bit. "Do you want to be that lucky girl?"

Sora gave a faint, sad smile and shook her head. "I'm not ready yet. I don't want to hurt someone because I'm still figuring myself out."

Daiki nodded. "Then I'll wait. And I'll keep showing you that I'm not him. That I'm someone you can trust."

Sora didn't respond, but she didn't look away either. There was a quiet stir in her chest.

*****

After they finished their drinks, Daiki walked Sora toward the carpark in quiet conversation, their steps steady until a familiar male voice called out from behind them.

"Sora."

She paused and turned, her eyes widening slightly when she recognized her ex-boyfriend walking toward them.

"Well, I see you're dating someone now. Care to introduce him?" he said with a smug smile, ignoring the tension in Sora's expression.

Sora parted her lips as if to explain that Daiki wasn't her boyfriend, but before she could speak, Daiki calmly stepped forward, extending a hand.

"Daiki," he said simply, his posture relaxed but firm.

When comparing the two men, it was clear that Daiki stood out more. He was taller, more physically fit, and his style was far sharper and more refined than Sora's ex. Even the ex-boyfriend's current girlfriend couldn't seem to keep her eyes off Daiki, sneaking glances at him with thinly veiled curiosity. What confused Sora the most was why her ex had even bothered to approach her in the first place, especially when he was already with someone else. It didn't make sense to her since most people would typically avoid any awkward encounter with an ex if they could.

Sora looked between them, confused and irritated. "What do you want?" she asked directly, her voice clipped and without patience.

"Nothing serious. Just thought I'd say hi. It's been a while," he replied casually, though his eyes lingered too long.

Daiki stepped slightly closer and said without hesitation, "Sora's been doing well with me. Very happy, actually." Then, turning to the other girl, he added, "You might want to watch out for any signs of an abusive boyfriend. Just a friendly reminder."

That pushed the ex over the edge. He took a step forward and reached for Daiki's shirt collar. "Are you trying to start something?"

Daiki caught his wrist mid-motion and didn't let go. His grip was firm, unshaking.

"No," Daiki said coolly, "but you should count yourself lucky Sora never reported what you did. If she had, I doubt you'd be out here smiling with your girlfriend right now."

There was a moment of silence. The man yanked his hand back, his face tight with frustration, and turned away, muttering under his breath as he walked off with his girlfriend in tow.

After a few seconds, Sora exhaled and looked at Daiki. "You didn't have to do that."

Daiki met her gaze calmly. "You shouldn't go easy on someone like that. He doesn't deserve it."

Sora nodded slowly, her voice quieter now. "Still… thank you."

Daiki offered a small nod in return, then moved to unlock the car.

As they got into Daiki's car and closed the doors, the tension from earlier slowly began to fade. Sora glanced out the window, trying to calm the rush of emotions still lingering in her chest. Daiki started the engine but didn't drive off immediately. Instead, he looked over at her.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice quiet.

Sora nodded, though her voice wavered slightly. "Yeah. Just didn't expect to see him. Or for you to… say all that."

Daiki rested one hand on the steering wheel, the other tapping lightly on his knee. "I meant every word. I couldn't just stand there and let him act like nothing happened. After what he did, he doesn't get the right to walk away like he's innocent."

Sora turned to him slowly, her eyes softening. "You're different from him."

Daiki let out a breath and gave her a sidelong glance. "That's good, right?"

She smiled faintly and looked down at her hands. "I don't know what this is, or where it's going, but I feel safer with you."

He reached out and gently tapped her hand resting on her knee. "Good. But fair warning… I plan to make you smile a lot more."

She laughed under her breath, her face warming again. "You're doing it already."

Daiki then finally turned the key in the ignition and drove the car.