Ever since that morning on the rooftop, something had clearly shifted between Hana and Sohei. It wasn't just the way he lingered during conversations or how he always ended up sitting next to her in meetings, like it was natural. It wasn't even the casual touches on her arm or shoulder—quick, light, but enough to make her skin tingle and her heart race.
It was deeper than that—something she felt before she even had time to think. And Sohei knew it. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he clearly enjoyed seeing her flustered.
It all came to a head during one of their long project meetings. The team was reviewing fragrance samples and planning the next round of testing. Hana was doing her best to concentrate—notes spread out, pen ready—but Sohei, seated right beside her, made it nearly impossible.
He sat back with one arm over his chair, completely at ease, like he owned the room. Every now and then, she felt his eyes on her—steady, warm, and focused. It was impossible to ignore. She kept stealing glances, her cheeks growing warmer with each one.
And then—
"Like what you see?"
Hana choked on her coffee, coughing as the hot liquid burned her throat. The room went silent, everyone turning to look. Chiaki tried not to laugh, her eyes gleaming with amusement, while Hayato raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.
Hana clutched the table, trying to recover. "W-What?" she hissed under her breath, shooting a glare at Sohei, her face burning.
Sohei, looking far too pleased with himself, grinned like he'd just scored a win. "You were staring," he said calmly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I was not!" she snapped in a low voice, her cheeks flaming.
He shrugged, flipping through his notes like nothing happened. "So defensive," he murmured just for her. "It's cute."
Hana's jaw dropped, her grip tightening on her pen as she seriously considered throwing it at him. How could he be so calm while she was falling apart? She shot him another glare, but Sohei just smirked, clearly enjoying every second.
Across the table, Chiaki sighed, shaking her head. "These two are impossible," she muttered, turning back to the meeting agenda.
Hana tried to focus, but with Sohei sitting so close, it was useless. His presence pulled at her attention, the memory of his voice and the warmth in his gaze still lingering. That teasing smile of his was driving her mad—but in a way that made her heart race.
Later that evening, as Hana wrapped up her work in the quiet, dim office, Sohei leaned casually against her desk. He looked completely at ease, but his eyes were sharp—like he'd been waiting for this moment.
"Dinner?" he asked, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Hana blinked, fingers frozen on the keyboard. "Huh?" she said, surprised. She hadn't expected him to still be around—let alone asking her out.
Sohei shrugged with a faint smirk. "I'm hungry. You need to eat. Let's go." His tone was firm but light, making it hard to say no.
She narrowed her eyes. "You make it sound like a business meeting."
His smirk grew, and he leaned in slightly, voice dropping just enough to send a chill down her spine. "If I call it a date, you'll overthink it."
Hana froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her face burned, the heat spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. He knew. Of course he knew. He always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, even before she did.
She opened her mouth to argue, to protest, but before she could get a word out, Sohei was already grabbing his jacket from the back of her chair, his movements smooth and deliberate.
"Come on," he said, tilting his head toward the door, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with something warm and playful. "I found a place you might like."
Hana hesitated, her heart skipping a beat at the way he looked at her—not teasing this time, but almost… fond. She grabbed her bag and stood up, brushing past him with a small huff. "You're very sure of my taste, aren't you?"
Sohei fell into step beside her, his hand gently grazing the small of her back as they walked toward the elevator. "I pay attention," he said with a small smile. "You wrinkle your nose at oily food. You only eat half your rice if it's too dry. And you always save the pickles for last."
Hana blinked up at him, caught off guard. "You notice all that?"
He glanced down, grinning. "Told you. I saw you before you saw me."
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, but the smile tugging at her lips was impossible to hide.
As the elevator doors closed behind them, Sohei leaned slightly closer and added, "You're cute when you're flustered, by the way."
Hana rolled her eyes, nudging him with her elbow. "And you're annoying."
"Still going to dinner with me though," he said, clearly pleased with himself.
She sighed dramatically, but her eyes sparkled. "Yeah… unfortunately."
Sohei chuckled, and before she could take another step, he reached out and gently took her hand again, his fingers sliding between hers with ease. The motion was so smooth, so natural, it made Hana's breath catch.
Sohei had picked a small, quiet izakaya tucked in a narrow alley, the kind of hidden spot that felt cozy and timeless. Lanterns lit the way, their soft glow reflecting off the damp pavement. It was the perfect place to talk without watching the clock.
As they stepped inside, the smell of sizzling skewers and rich broth wrapped around them like a warm hug. They settled into a corner booth, away from the noise, the dim lights making the space feel more private than Hana expected.
She looked around, smiling as she took in the wooden beams and soft chatter. "This place is nice," she said gently.
Sohei leaned back, one arm resting behind her as he watched her. "Figured you'd like it," he said simply, though his gaze lingered in a way that made her heart skip.
They ordered a few dishes—skewers, grilled fish, and small plates to share. While they waited, Sohei propped his chin on his hand, eyes locked on her.
"You're overthinking again," he said, breaking the calm silence.
Hana pouted, cheeks pink as she looked away. "I am not," she mumbled, though even she didn't sound convinced.
He smirked, his expression equal parts amused and knowing. "Then tell me what's on your mind."
She hesitated, twirling her chopsticks between her fingers as she tried to gather her thoughts. Finally, she took a deep breath and met his gaze, her voice soft but steady. "…You're different now."
Sohei raised an eyebrow, his expression curious but unreadable. "Different how?"
She shifted in her seat, chewing on her bottom lip as she tried to find the right words. "You used to tease me, but now… it's different."
He tilted his head, his gaze never leaving hers, as if he were waiting for her to continue.
Hana took another deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "You're taking me seriously, aren't you?"
A slow, knowing smile played at his lips, his expression softening in a way that made her stomach flutter.
"Took you long enough to notice," he murmured, his voice low and warm.
Hana's heart skipped, her breath catching in her throat. She should have said something, should have responded, but the words got caught somewhere in her throat, her entire body betraying her. Instead, she did the only thing she could—picked up her chopsticks and shoved a piece of grilled fish into her mouth, her cheeks burning.
"Eat your dinner, Sohei," she muttered, her voice muffled as she avoided his gaze.
Sohei chuckled, the sound low and rich, shaking his head as he leaned back in his seat.
"You're cute when you're flustered," he said, his tone teasing but his eyes soft.
Hana choked on her food, her face turning an even deeper shade of red as she reached for her water. Sohei just grinned, clearly enjoying himself, and for once, Hana couldn't bring herself to mind.
After dinner, Sohei drove Hana home. Hana sat curled up in the passenger seat, still feeling the warmth of dinner and a bit of plum wine.
She glanced at him, thinking of that smug grin he gave her earlier when she choked on her food. Just remembering it made her cheeks warm again.
"Thank you for dinner," she said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. "I… had a really nice time."
Sohei didn't say anything right away. Instead, he reached over and gently took her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers with a quiet certainty. His thumb brushed lightly along the back of her hand, warm and steady.
"I'm glad," he said, his voice low, sincere. "Me too."
The car rolled to a stop in front of her apartment. Hana unbuckled her seatbelt, but before she could open the door, Sohei reached out and gently took her hand. His thumb brushed slowly over her knuckles—soft, deliberate. Her breath caught.
"Goodnight, Hana," he said, his voice low and tender.
She looked at him, suddenly aware of how close he was. His scent. His warmth. The way his eyes stayed locked on hers.
"Goodnight, Sohei," she whispered.
Then, without giving herself time to think, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. She pulled back fast, slipping out of the car before he could say a word. As she walked away, she glanced back just once—and saw him still sitting there, eyes on her, a soft smile playing on his lips