Sohei sighed, pacing back and forth outside his brother's hotel room, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. He had been trying to reach Chiaki all night, his calls going unanswered and his texts left unread. The frustration was evident in the way he ran a hand through his hair, his expression tense as he glanced at the closed door.
"She's probably asleep," Hana said beside him, her voice soft and reassuring as she hugged a small shopping bag to her chest, the souvenirs she had bought earlier still tucked inside. Sohei let out a low groan, his tone tinged with exasperation. "Still, she should have let me know if she was staying with my brother," he muttered, his words carrying a hint of concern that he couldn't quite hide.
Hana tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful as she tried to offer a plausible explanation. "Maybe she just didn't want to wake him up by answering her phone," she suggested, her tone gentle but firm. Sohei paused, his brow furrowing as he considered her words. "Maybe," he muttered, though it didn't sit right with him. One thing was clear—he wasn't getting into his room tonight.
With a sigh, he glanced at Hana, his expression softening as he realized she had been standing there with him the entire time. "You should go back," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I'll figure something out." Hana blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked, her tone laced with concern.
Sohei shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he leaned against the wall. "I'll just sleep in the lobby or something," he said, his tone casual but his words carrying a hint of resignation. "The hotel's fully booked, right?" Hana frowned, her arms tightening around the shopping bag as she shook her head. "That's ridiculous," she said, her voice firm. Sohei raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Not much of a choice," he replied, his tone light but his eyes betraying his frustration.
For a moment, Hana debated with herself, her mind racing as she weighed the pros and cons of what she was about to suggest. Then, before she could overthink it, she blurted out, "You can sleep in my room." Sohei froze, his eyes widening slightly as he turned to look at her. "…What?" he asked, his tone a mix of surprise and disbelief. Hana's face heated up immediately, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she stumbled over her words. "I—I mean, just for the night!" she said quickly, her voice rising slightly in pitch. "It's not like we haven't stayed under the same roof before. We work together in the same office! It's just sleeping! On separate beds, obviously!" Sohei stared at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before an unexpected grin spread across his face. "You're really bad at explaining things when you're flustered, huh?" he teased, his tone light but his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Hana groaned, her hands flying up to cover her face as she turned away. "Forget it! Go sleep in the lobby!" she said, her voice muffled by her hands. Sohei laughed, the sound warm and genuine as he raised a hand in surrender. "Alright, alright. I accept your kind offer," he said, his tone playful but his words carrying a hint of gratitude. Hana huffed, turning on her heel as she muttered under her breath, "This is the worst idea ever." Despite her words, she led the way to her room, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to ignore the way Sohei's presence seemed to fill the hallway.
Hana pushed open the door to her room, stepping aside to let Sohei enter. The room wasn't big, but it was cozy, with two twin beds neatly made, a small sitting area by the window, and a view of the quiet street below. Sohei glanced around, nodding appreciatively as he took in the setup. "Nice setup," he said, his tone casual but his eyes lingering on the details of the room. Hana set her shopping bag down on the table and turned to him, her arms crossed as she tried to maintain some semblance of control over the situation.
"Rules," she said, her voice firm but her cheeks still tinged with pink. "You take that bed. No snoring. No weird sleep habits." Sohei chuckled, setting his phone on the nightstand as he nodded. "Got it, boss," he said, his tone teasing but his expression serious.
Hana hesitated for a moment, then grabbed a spare pillow from her bed and tossed it at him. "Just in case you need extra support," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sohei caught it easily, his grin widening as he held it up. "Thanks, Mom," he said, teasingly. His tone was light, but his eyes held a warmth that made Hana's heart skip a beat.
She rolled her eyes, trying to hide how his words affected her. "I'm going to wash up," she muttered, quickly turning away before he could see the blush rising in her cheeks. She grabbed her towel and slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her as she let out a quiet breath, trying to steady the fluttering in her chest.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door clicked open, and Hana stepped out, her hair slightly damp and a fresh scent of soap lingering around her. She wore a loose T-shirt and comfortable shorts, hugging a towel to her chest as if it might hide the faint pink still warming her cheeks.
Sohei glanced up from his spot on the floor, now lying back against the pillow she'd thrown him, one arm behind his head. His gaze flicked to her briefly—soft, unreadable—but he didn't say anything.
Hana avoided his eyes, crossing the room quietly and slipping into her bed. She pulled the blanket over herself, turning slightly to face the wall. But her heart wasn't calm. She could still feel his presence, just a few feet away. Close enough to hear his breathing.
"Good night," she said as she turned off the main light, leaving only the warm glow of the bedside lamp to illuminate the room. As she climbed into her bed, her mind raced with thoughts of the day and the unexpected turn of events. But despite the chaos, she couldn't help but feel a sense of calm, knowing that Sohei was just a few feet away.
Sohei lay back on the bed, folding his arms behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He glanced over and saw Hana curled up in her bed, hugging her pillow tightly to her chest like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her breathing was slow and steady, her face relaxed in a way he hadn't seen before. He found himself smiling, a small, almost involuntary reaction to the sight of her looking so peaceful. Who knew she was this adorable when she slept? It was a side of her he hadn't expected, and it made him wonder what other sides of her he had yet to discover.
A few minutes passed in comfortable silence, the quiet hum of the night settling over the room like a soft blanket. Then, just as he was starting to drift off, her voice broke the stillness. "Sohei?" she called softly, her tone hesitant but curious. He turned his head slightly, surprised she was still awake. "Yeah?" he replied, his voice low and calm, matching the quiet of the room. Hana hesitated before speaking, her words careful but carrying a weight that made him sit up a little straighter. "Have you ever been in love?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sohei blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Wow. Straight to the deep questions, huh?" he said, his tone light but his mind racing as he tried to figure out where this was coming from. Hana shifted slightly, her voice soft but steady as she replied, "I'm just curious." Sohei stared at the ceiling for a moment, his thoughts swirling as he considered her question. It wasn't something he had expected to talk about tonight, but there was something about the quiet intimacy of the moment that made him want to answer honestly. "…I've dated a few people before," he admitted, his tone thoughtful. "But love?" He let out a small chuckle, the sound tinged with a hint of self-awareness. "Not sure if I've really been in love before."
Hana turned to face him, her eyes searching his even in the dim light. "Why not?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing. Sohei let out a breath, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he tried to put his thoughts into words. "I guess… I never found someone who really made me feel that way," he said honestly, his voice quiet but filled with a sincerity that surprised even him.
"I've met people I liked, but it was never something I couldn't walk away from." Hana stayed quiet, her expression thoughtful as she processed his words. After a moment, she whispered, "Maybe you just haven't met the right person yet."
Sohei's eyes flickered to her, his attention fully captured by her words. She was lying on her side, her hair slightly messy from the pillow, her face relaxed but serious as she looked at him. For some reason, those words lingered in his mind, echoing in the quiet of the room.
"…Maybe," he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of something he couldn't quite name. A comfortable silence stretched between them, the kind of silence that felt heavy with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Hana yawned, breaking the moment as she snuggled deeper into the blankets, her eyes already starting to close. "We should sleep," she mumbled, her voice turned drowsy.
Sohei watched as she drifted off, her breathing slow and steady once more. As he closed his eyes, a thought crossed his mind. Maybe Hana was right. Maybe he really hadn't met the right person yet. Or maybe… she was already right beside him. The idea lingered as he fell asleep, a quiet hope taking root in his heart, one that he wasn't quite ready to name but couldn't ignore.