The streets were quieter than usual, the soft glow of the city lights casting long shadows along the pavent. The gentle hum of distant traffic and the occasional footsteps of passersby were the only sounds breaking the silence.
Keiko walked beside , her hand still in mine.
I had no idea how we ended up like this. Holding hands. Walking in silence.
I should say sothing.
But I was too focused on how warm her hand felt.
The mont stretched between us, comfortable yet charged with sothing unspoken. I wanted to hold onto it just a little longer.
After a few minutes, she finally broke the silence.
“You’ve been acting a little different today.”
I glanced at her. “Different?”
She tilted her head, studying with quiet curiosity. “Like… there’s sothing on your mind.”
I swallowed. “Well… there is.”
She waited patiently.
I stopped walking and turned to her. “Keiko… are you really okay? After everything that happened?”
She blinked, then smiled. “I’m fine. Really. You don’t have to worry about , Ryuko.”
“I do worry,” I admitted, my grip on her hand tightening slightly. “Because… I—”
The words caught in my throat.
Keiko’s eyes softened. “Ryuko?”
I hesitated.
What was I doing?
I wasn’t just Ryuko.
I was Ryusei.
And Keiko still didn’t know.
But standing here, under the streetlights, with her looking at like that… it made want to forget everything and just be Ryuko.
Just for tonight.
Just for this mont.
So instead of words, I gently squeezed her hand.
She smiled at , squeezing back. “I don’t know why, but when I’m with you… I feel safe.”
My heart almost burst.
The mont stretched between us—quiet, warm, undeniable.
Then, suddenly, she giggled.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“You’re blushing,” she teased.
I covered my face with my free hand. “I—No, I’m not—”
“You totally are,” she laughed.
I groaned, turning away in embarrassnt. “This is why I don’t get romantic…”
Keiko chuckled and pulled back by the hand. “You don’t have to say anything, Ryuko. Just stay like this a little longer.”
I looked at her in surprise.
Then I smiled.
“Okay.”
We continued walking at a slower pace, hand in hand. The night air felt crisp, carrying with it a sense of sothing new, sothing fragile yet precious.
After a while, I finally found the courage to ask.
“Keiko… about the old man. The boss...”
She let out a small sigh but didn’t pull away. “The truth is… he was never the real owner of Manna’s Kitchen.”
I frowned. “What?”
Keiko nodded. “He just ca around to flirt with a couple of tis and I was just trying to be polite.”
I felt my jaw tighten. That old man…
Keiko continued, her voice calm but firm. “I’ve been working at Manna’s Kitchen for nearly ten years. Miss Manna really trusts , which is why she made the manager and gave the freedom to run the restaurant as I see fit.”
I felt relieved hearing that. At least Manna’s Kitchen was a good place for her. A place where she was valued.
Keiko smiled fondly. “Miss Manna is like a good friend of mine now. She’s really busy and rarely cos by, but of course I give her reports every month.”
I nodded. That made sense. The real owner wasn’t neglecting the restaurant—she was just busy, trusting Keiko to handle things.
“But well… lately, her father started coming around and…”
She trailed off, her fingers tensing slightly in my grasp.
I could see it in her expression—the discomfort, the unease.
I stopped walking again and turned to her. “Forget it, Keiko,” I said gently. “What’s important is that it’s clear now. You don’t have to think about it anymore.”
She looked at for a mont before nodding, her shoulders relaxing. “Yeah. You’re right.”
I smiled at her. “I’m always right.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled back. “Oh, sure.”
The playful banter eased the weight of the conversation, and soon, we were walking again, the warmth of our intertwined fingers grounding .
But as we strolled through the quiet streets, a thought crept into my mind.
If I were Ryusei right now, would Keiko be able to open up to like this?
Would she feel this safe?
Would she… love again?
I glanced at her—at the way her hair caught the glow of the streetlights, at the way her lips curled slightly as if she were deep in thought.
She looked… happy.
And right now, she was happy with Ryuko.
But I wasn’t just Ryuko.
And I wasn’t sure if she could ever look at the sa way again, if I was Ryusei.
Still, for tonight…
For this mont…
I let myself hold onto her hand just a little tighter.
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